Biogen reiterates late-stage M&A priority as it calls off planned aducanumab trial

As it contemplates exiting β-amyloid programs, Biogen is prioritizing late-stage M&A to shore up its pipeline and preparing to deliver near-term Phase II readouts from a stable of other non-Alzheimer's disease candidates. The bellwether also reported 1Q19 earnings Wednesday that came in ahead of the consensus.

EVP of R&D Michael Ehlers said on the company’s earnings call that Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) has decided not to initiate a planned Phase III secondary prevention study to evaluate whether early use of aducanumab can prevent or delay the clinical onset of AD. The fate of that study and its β-amyloid programs overall came into question in March when Biogen partner Eisai Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4523) discontinued the Phase III ENGAGE and EMERGE studies in early AD after finding aducanumab was unlikely to meet the primary endpoints (see "Biogen, Eisai Discontinuing Aducanumab Studies in AD")...