Biogen (NASDAQ: BIIB) has announced its decision to discontinue the development and commercialization of its Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drug Aduhelm (aducanumab), including a Phase IV post-marketing confirmatory study that was necessary to upgrade the treatment’s accelerated approval in the US. This move will incur USD 60 million in close-out costs and comes after the inability to secure potential partners or external financing for Aduhelm. The decision follows last year’s strategic shift towards prioritizing other products.
Resources previously allocated to Aduhelm will now be redirected towards the 2023 launch of the AD medicine Leqembi (lecanemab) in partnership with Japanese firm Eisai (TYO: 4523), and the acceleration of development for two additional AD candidates. These include the tau-targeting antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) BIIB080, licensed from Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IONS), and the small molecule inhibitor (SMI) of tau aggregation BIIB113.
With this decision, the rights to Aduhelm will revert to Switzerland-based licensor Neurimmune.- Flcube.com
