“As we looked at how the landscape was evolving ...... and the corresponding fit with our strategic priorities about where we could best allocate resources, based on our own expertise and competency, ...... it wasn't as good of a fit as other things which we could allocate our resources towards,” said Biogen EVP of R&D Michael Ehlers on the Oct. 26 call about the decision.
The above quote illustrates what I was trying to say in my last post last night when I said this about the Anavex - Biogen collaboration: "Many people within Biogen that have expertise have mulled this over very carefully. This is not to say that succes by Biogen in its efforts here for treating this complicated disease is in any way a given, but it definitely gives a great deal of credibility to the Anavex science. Biogen's decision was not lighty made.''
Although this is certainly encouraging, my understanding is that Biogen will first perform tests in a laboratory setting. If laboratory results are positive, this may lead to human trials. AVXL 2-73 safety in humans will help. The companies would also likely obtained fast track approval for use in treating MS and other similar CNS diseases involving the myelin sheath that protects neurons or nerves in the human body. This will all take time. The FDA regulatory wheels grind slowly.
What is significant is that Biogen's resources are behind this, and any positive announcements along the way about the Biogen/AVXL 2-73 study should move Anavex share price up near term even though the process as a whole will take quite some time.
