Biogen Inc. is a multinational biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. [1]
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| Ticker | NASDAQ: BIIB |
| CEO | Christopher Viehbacher |
| Employees | ~7,500 |
| Market Cap | ~0 billion (2024) |
| Drug | Mechanism | Phase | Indication | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aduhelm (aducanumab) | Anti-amyloid mAb | Approved (withdrawn) | AD | Withdrawn from market (2024) |
| Remternetug | Anti-amyloid mAb | Phase 3 | AD | Active |
| BIIB080 (tau ASO) | Tau antisense oligonucleotide | Phase 1/2 | AD, PSP | Active |
| BIB094 | Tau mAb | Preclinical | AD | Discovery |
| Drug | Mechanism | Phase | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vipadenant (BIIB014) | Adenosine A2A receptor antagonist | Phase 2 | Discontinued |
| BIIB122 (DNL151) | LRRK2 inhibitor | Phase 1b | Completed; partnered with Denali |
| Cinpanemab (BIIB054) | Anti-alpha-synuclein mAb | Phase 2 | Discontinued |
Cinpanemab (formerly BIIB054) is Biogen's monoclonal antibody targeting alpha-synuclein aggregates for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
The SPARK study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial evaluating cinpanemab in patients with early Parkinson's disease.
Cinpanemab was designed to bind specifically to pathological forms of alpha-synuclein, including:
The antibody was intended to neutralize extracellular alpha-synuclein and enhance microglial clearance, potentially preventing the spread of pathology throughout the brain.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Phase 1 study initiated |
| 2020 | Phase 2 SPARK study initiated |
| 2022 | SPARK results announced — primary endpoint not met |
| 2023 | Program discontinued |
Despite the discontinuation, data from cinpanemab development contributed to understanding alpha-synuclein pathophysiology and informs future anti-synuclein immunotherapy efforts.
Vipadenant (BIIB014): Biogen developed vipadenant, a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist for Parkinson's disease. The drug entered Phase 2 clinical trials but was discontinued as part of Biogen's strategic pipeline prioritization. Vipadenant represented Biogen's historical interest in non-dopaminergic Parkinson's therapeutics targeting the purinergic system, specifically the adenosine A2A receptor in the basal ganglia. The program was similar to other A2A antagonist programs in the field, which aimed to improve motor symptoms by blocking adenosine-mediated inhibition of dopaminergic signaling.
Biogen's neuroscience pipeline has potential relevance to Multiple System Atrophy as an α-synucleinopathy:
| Year | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Leqembi Launch | First disease-modifying AD therapy; commercial launch in Q1 2023 |
| 2023 | Aduhelm Withdrawal | Biogen voluntarily withdrew marketing authorization in the US |
| 2024 | Sage Therapeutics Divestiture | Sold rare disease business to Alpine Immune Sciences for .65 billion |
| 2024 | CEO Transition | Christopher Viehbacher appointed CEO, succeeding Michel Vounatsos |
| Year | Revenue | Key Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0.9B | Aduhelm launch |
| 2022 | 0.2B | Leqembi early sales |
| 2023 | .8B | Leqembi growth, Aduhelm decline |
| 2024 | ~.5B | Post-Aduhelm withdrawal |
Biogen's neurodegenerative pipeline focuses on: