Tuesday brought what was arguably the most anticipated presentation of the 2026 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference when Catherine Mummery, head of novel therapeutics at University College London’s Dementia Research Center, presented data from the phase II Celia trial of tau-lowering antisense oligonucleotide diranersen (BIIB-080, Biogen Inc.). Based on both clinical and biomarker data, “Celia establishes a proof of concept,” Mummery said, that reducing tau may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Details were scant, but Biogen Inc. snagged a portfolio of early stage immunology-focused candidates by way of an acquisition deal for Raythera Inc. that could total as much as $1 billion.
Biopharma stocks, as measured on the BioWorld Biopharmaceutical Index, underperformed both the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average through the first four months of 2026.
Biogen Inc. has decided to advance diranersen (BIIB-080) into registrational trials for early Alzheimer’s disease, even though the antisense oligonucleotide therapy, originally discovered by Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., missed its phase II primary endpoint.
Biogen Inc. has consolidated full global rights to felzartamab through an $850 million deal with TJ Biopharma Co. Ltd. April 20, closing the chapter on a complex 10-year license saga.
The ongoing controversy over the effectiveness of anti-amyloid drugs is about to get more heated, after a review of clinical trials showed statistically significant results do not read across to clinical benefit for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Alloy Therapeutics Inc. has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Biogen Inc. for the use of Alloy’s Anticlastic ASO platform to accelerate the development of innovative oligonucleotide therapeutics.
Biogen Inc. hardly blinked at the competition faced by Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc. as the two companies sealed a deal whereby the former has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of the latter for $41 each, or about $5.6 billion.
