Biogen hematology spinout Bioverativ launches
Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) spun out its hematology business into Bioverativ Inc. (NASDAQ:BIVV) as a standalone public company. Bioverativ's two marketed drugs, Eloctate efmoroctocog alfa for hemophilia A and Alprolix eftrenonacog alfa for hemophilia B, generated a combined $888 million in 2016 revenues.
The newco also has a preclinical pipeline of at least seven candidates in non-malignant hematology indications. The company expects to begin a clinical study next half of the most advanced program, BIVV 001, to treat hemophilia A. Designed as a once-weekly or less frequently dosed prophylactic, BIVV 001 is a long-acting recombinant fusion protein that uses XTEN polypeptide technology as well as the Fc domain of human IgG1 attached to Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor (vWF)...