In November 2003, Biogen Inc. of Cambridge and Idec Pharmaceuticals Corp. (both SBIR firms) completed their $6.4 billion merger in a stock swap that created at the time the nation's third-largest biotech firm. Doing business since then as named Biogen IDEC Inc. the firm develops, manufactures, and commercializes novel therapeutics in the areas of neurology, oncology, immunology, cardiopulmonary, and hemophilia in the United States and internationally. The company's marketed products include AVONEX for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS); RITUXAN for treating relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, and B-cell Non-Hodgkin?s Lymphoma (NHL); TYSABRI to treat relapsing MS; and FUMADERM for the treatment of severe psoriasis. Its products under development consist of BG-12, a Phase III clinical trial product for the treatment of MS; Humanized Anti-CD20 MAb, a Phase III clinical trial product for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus nephritis; Lixivaptan, a Phase III clinical drug for the treatment of Hyponatremia; Daclizumab, a Phase II monoclonal antibody that is being tested in relapsing MS; and Fampridine, an oral compound as a treatment to improve walking ability in people with MS. The company's products under preclinical stage comprise BIIB014, Ocrelizumab, Neublastin, LINGO, and BART for neurology; Hsp90 Inhibitor, GA101, Anti-IGF-1R, Volociximab, Anti-CRIPTO, RAF Inhibitor, and Anti-Fn14 for oncology; Anti-TWEAK, Anti-CD40L Fab, and Anti-FcRn for immunology; and Long-acting rFactor VIII for hemophilia.
