Abbott's offer "makes a mockery of the recent unsolicited bid from Biogen," wrote Merriman Curhan Ford & Co analyst Mike King in a research note. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Abbott's offer "makes a mockery of the recent unsolicited bid from <span class="company">Biogen</span>," wrote Merriman Curhan Ford & Co analyst <span class="analyst">Mike King</span> in a research note.</span> Tweet this 

These are this Tuesday morning's top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen in early Wall Street research notes: Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) Started as Buy at Soleil. 
Share:  <span class="sent">These are this Tuesday morning's top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen in early Wall Street research notes: <span class="company">Biogen Idec</span> (NASDAQ: BIIB) Started as Buy at <span class="analyst">Soleil.</span></span> Tweet this 

Biotech company Biogen Idec ( BIIB , Analyst Report ) and Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche recently suffered a setback with one of their pipeline candidates, ocrelizumab, due to safety related issues. Biogen and Roche announced that they have suspended treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients based on a recommendation issued by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). Concerns regarding the safety of the drug were raised in , when a safety review of ocrelizumab in RA and lupus nephritis (LN) studies showed an imbalance in opportunistic infections in patients being treated with the candidate. 
Share:  Biotech company <span class="company">Biogen Idec</span> ( BIIB , Analyst Report ) and Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche recently suffered a setback with one of their pipeline candidates, ocrelizumab, due to safety related issues. Biogen and Roche announced that they have suspended treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients based on a recommendation issued by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). Concerns regarding the safety of the drug were raised in , when a safety review of ocrelizumab in RA and lupus nephritis (LN) studies showed an imbalance in opportunistic infections in patients being treated with the candidate. Tweet this 

Despite the setback, JPMorgan analyst Geoff Meacham said there was a silver lining for Biogen because it allowed the company to maintain a profit sharing percentage on Rituxan that otherwise would have been reduced had the follow on drug progressed. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Despite the setback, <span class="analyst">JPMorgan</span> analyst Geoff Meacham said there was a silver lining for <span class="company">Biogen</span> because it allowed the company to maintain a profit sharing percentage on Rituxan that otherwise would have been reduced had the follow on drug progressed.</span> Tweet this 

Tysabri, which is marketed by Biogen Idec ( BIIB , Analyst Report ) and Elan Corp ( ELN , Snapshot Report ), is approved in the U.S for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. The decision to update the safety information on Tysabri's label is based on reports of 31 confirmed cases of PML, a rare but serious brain infection. The agency's move comes a couple of weeks after the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) arrived at the conclusion that the risk of a patient developing PML increases after having taken the drug for two years or more, though the risk remains low. 
Share:  Tysabri, which is marketed by <span class="company">Biogen Idec</span> ( BIIB , Analyst Report ) and Elan Corp ( ELN , Snapshot Report ), is approved in the U.S for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. The decision to update the safety information on Tysabri's label is based on reports of 31 confirmed cases of PML, a rare but serious brain infection. The agency's move comes a couple of weeks after the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) arrived at the conclusion that the risk of a patient developing PML increases after having taken the drug for two years or more, though the risk remains low. Tweet this 

Recently, Biogen Idec ( ) and Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of Rituxan (rituximab) plus fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) in patients with previously untreated as well as treated CD20 positive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The approval was based on data from two phase III studies, CLL8 and REACH, which evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Rituxan One study, conducted in previously untreated patients, showed that progression free survival was 8 months longer for patients receiving Rituxan plus chemotherapy, compared to patients who received chemotherapy alone 
Share:  <span class="sent">Recently, <span class="company">Biogen Idec</span> ( ) and Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of Rituxan (rituximab) plus fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) in patients with previously untreated as well as treated CD20 positive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). </span> The approval was based on data from two phase III studies, CLL8 and REACH, which evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Rituxan One study, conducted in previously untreated patients, showed that progression free survival was 8 months longer for patients receiving Rituxan plus chemotherapy, compared to patients who received chemotherapy alone Tweet this 

Biogen Idec's two foundational drugs, MS drug Avonex and cancer drug Rituxan, weighed on sales growth. Avonex sales grew 5% to $23 billion, with US sales boosted by price increases and international sales hit by currency headwinds Revenue from Rituxan fell 3% to $11 billion, as international royalties from partner Roche continue to expire in additional countries 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="company">Biogen Idec</span>'s two foundational drugs, MS drug Avonex and cancer drug Rituxan, weighed on sales growth. Avonex sales grew 5% to $23 billion, with US sales boosted by price increases and international sales hit by currency headwinds</span> Revenue from Rituxan fell 3% to $11 billion, as international royalties from partner Roche continue to expire in additional countries Tweet this 

Revenue rose 54 percent to $113 billion as more patients were treated with Tysabri About 48,800 people take the multiple sclerosis treatment, which Biogen sells with partner Elan Corp, as of the end of 2009 Tysabri is prescribed with caution because of its link to a deadly brain disease called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML "Biogen's stock is still strongly influenced by the outlook for Tysabri," said Geoffrey Porges, an analyst with Sanford C Bernstein & Co in New York, in a note to investors today "Recently the company has achieved a re acceleration in the rate of new patient starts on Tysabri, but we question the sustainability of this rebound in the face of increasing reports of PML in longer treated patients" The company forecast 2010 earnings, excluding some items, of more than $455, according to the release 
Share:  Revenue rose 54 percent to $113 billion as more patients were treated with Tysabri About 48,800 people take the multiple sclerosis treatment, which <span class="company">Biogen</span> sells with partner Elan Corp, as of the end of 2009<span class="sent"> Tysabri is prescribed with caution because of its link to a deadly brain disease called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML "<span class="company">Biogen</span>'s stock is still strongly influenced by the outlook for Tysabri," said <span class="analyst">Geoffrey Porges</span>, an analyst with Sanford C Bernstein & Co in New York, in a note to investors today</span> "Recently the company has achieved a re acceleration in the rate of new patient starts on Tysabri, but we question the sustainability of this rebound in the face of increasing reports of PML in longer treated patients" The company forecast 2010 earnings, excluding some items, of more than $455, according to the release...Revenue rose 54 percent to $113 billion as more patients were treated with Tysabri About 48,800 people take the multiple sclerosis treatment, which <span class="company">Biogen</span> sells with partner Elan Corp, as of the end of 2009<span class="sent"> Tysabri is prescribed with caution because of its link to a deadly brain disease called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML "<span class="company">Biogen</span>'s stock is still strongly influenced by the outlook for Tysabri," said <span class="analyst">Geoffrey Porges</span>, an Tweet this