Topic: How To Invest

Q: Hi, Pat. What are your views on Biogen? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

A: Biogen, $282.71, symbol BIIB on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 163.2 million; Market cap: $45.5 billion; www.biogen.com), is a biopharmaceutical company developing products for the long-term management of cancers, and auto-immune and inflammatory diseases, among others. The current focus is on non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and rheumatoid arthritis. The company’s major drugs are those focused on multiple sclerosis—Tecfidera, Tysabri, Rituxan and Avonex. Biogen also has a new drug for Alzheimer’s disease, Aducanumab, which is currently going through late-stage clinical trials. Over the next several months, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to rule on whether Aducanumab gets fast-track treatment, a “standard” response, or no response at all. Biogen has a lot riding on Aducanumab. The drug will probably need six to 10 months to reach the marketplace. However, the U.S. alone has an estimated 5.8 million people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, no Alzheimer’s drug on the market can combat the disease—they only treat symptoms. As a result,…