Biogen IDEC Inc.BIIBTOP PICKMar 10, 2015Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 05, 2026. Market Open.
https://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/fda_sets_november_date_for_expert_panel_review_of_biogens_aducanumab_1351831 Until February 2020, Biogen's FDA results of an Alzheimer drug was the healthcare event of the year (then Covid hit). Novartis and other players are starting to compete here, though. He owned Biogen some years ago. He was on a panel which was split over whether Biogen would get FDA approval on Nov. 6. Regardless, this is a high-risk play; this could pop 35-50% up or down. The risk/return is too much for him. The drug has a checkered past and so far there is no effective Alzheimer's drug, but if it works it will be huge for the company and society.
You have an aging population in the US that is relatively insensitive to price. Last year pharmaceutical prices rose 13%. This company has the dominant market share position in neurological drugs for things such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s. They have some very important trials in March on Alzheimer’s, which are potentially blockbuster findings. They may either slow down the onset or, more importantly, actually show some reversing. As the Affordable Care act comes in, there are more people that have money to spend on healthcare. In the next couple of years there are lots of additional trials that will come.