Dive Brief:
- Biogen Idec and Isis Pharma have just ushered their fourth drug, for treatment of a neurodegenerative disease, into development. Isis won a $10 million milestone payment thanks to the achievement.
- The drug entering development is known as ISIS-BIIB4(RX).
- Isis is eligible to receive as much as $249 million in additional milestone payments.
Dive Insight:
According to a statement from Frank Bennett, PhD, senior vice president of research at Isis, as reported to Contract Pharma, "Our collaboration with Biogen Idec is one of the most productive collaborations we have. We have significantly expanded the application of our technology in neurology, and we now have four drugs in development as part of our broad Biogen Idec collaboration. As each of these programs advances, not only will we continue to earn additional milestone payments, but we will also continue to benefit from Biogen Idec's active participation in these programs, lending their resources and expertise."