Biogen Idec Q2 2007 Earnings Call Transcript

Tags: Biogen Idec Inc.

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

(Operator Instructions). Our first question comes from Jim Birchenough with Lehman Brothers.

Jim Birchenough - Lehman Brothers

Hi, guys. Just wondering if you could comment, perhaps, on new patient adds that we are seeing for TYSABRI in the US and Europe? It seems like the weekly trends for new patient adds are declining in the US and accelerating in Europe. Just wondering if you are seeing the same thing, particularly in the US, what is underlying that trend? Just as a follow-up, just wondering if you could comment on discontinuations from therapy that you're seeing with TYSABRI?

Jim Mullen

Bob, do you want to handle that?

Bob Hamm

Sure. Thanks, Jim. On the new patient adds, I don't see the lack of acceleration that you're referring to, frankly. I see a steady-state and occasional blips upward in recent weeks. So I am not sure what is behind that analysis. I think in terms of the slides, if you look at the time frames we're talking about there, you can derive different views. On the discontinuation, it is clear that we have some discontinuations. We think they are running about the same as they have been for a while in terms of how they look against other products. The primary reasons tend to be AEs that occur, that are reported, hypersensitivity reactions, these kinds of things. But so far, the members are well within what we expected.

Operator

Next question comes from the line of Mark Schoenebaum with Bear Stearns.

Mark Schoenebaum - Bear Stearns

Maybe I could ask a question on TYSABRI for Crohn's. Can you guys maybe just clarify? I know I think you said Elan is kind of leading the effort here; but what exactly is the indication you are going to be looking for? Is it both induction and maintenance? And then I don't know if you guys have, I have been looking around, I can't find it. But do you have data specifically in TNF alpha failures? Will you have that data broken out for the committee on the 31st? Just a housekeeping question, just if you can give AVONEX share in the US and the EU.

Jim Mullen

Okay, so why don't I let Evan take the first part; and probably Peter has got the best data on the AVONEX share. So Evan, you want to take TYSABRI in Crohn's?

Evan Beckman

Sure, thanks, Jim. So in terms of the indication that we are looking at for TYSABRI in Crohn's, so we are looking for treatment of induction and maintenance in Crohn's disease. In terms of the patient populations, I think certainly that will be the focus of the discussion we have at the advisory committee, trying to define labeling language for an appropriate population. We have data. We have a large number of patients in the clinical development program for TYSABRI in Crohn's.

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