The remyelination topic still rages highlighted by the now famous Biogen Lab video, the Dr Lisak/WSU pre-clinical studies and Biogen's persistent advocacy of Opicanunab. And most intriguing is the now going on two year MTA which has put 2-73 in the middle of Biogen's research for an effective remyelination drug. IMHO we are in extra innings in negotiations with Biogen and this is in the "hardball" stage over MS and AD. Anavex has put men on base with the Australian AD P3 and the PD trial in Europe and Michel Vounatsos is contemplating who he has in the "bullpen". As I said several times before, 2-73 is both Biogen's greatest hope or, it's worst nightmare.
From discussions this spring:
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Doc, it's great that Dr Lisak is an acquaintance of yours and I did not detect your concern about the quality of his research with 2-73 other than it has not been peer reviewed to our knowledge at this point. One of our more respected board contributors reported a link with Biogen and WSU's Nuerological program some time ago, The Neurology Department serves over 3000 MS patients making it one of the largest MS Centers in the US and possibly the world. I'll look up those links and pass them on.
Beyond the known link with Anavex, Biogen and WSU in MS research, the question of the duration of the MTA puzzles many, As you point out that with the meager information from the PR on the MTA, the results from the Biogen Lab should have been known some time ago. So, given Biogen's focus on finding an effective remyelination drug (as stated plainly in the "lab video") and the failure of their prime in-house remyelination candidate, Opicinumab, in an optic nerve P2 trial, it seems that the results of the MTA may appear to be positive. What complicateds the picture is that 2-73 is a direct competitor to their Alzheimer's drug candidate, Aducanumab, now in a 2700 patient, 20 country P3 trial targeting ABeta Plaque (due to report in 2019/2020). Thus 2-73, if it turns out to have MS and AZ efficacy, is either Biogen best hope or worst nightmare depending on what they do with it. They apparently are not at the point of offering Chris Messling an attractive offer possibly waiting on our AZ P3 or have made an low ball offer which CM has turned down. As a historical perspective, Biogen paid Elan $3.25B plus royalties for the remaining 50% interest of Tysabri , one of their leading MS drugs in 2013. Biogen's MS line up of drugs brings in over 70% of the company's revenue but, is under severe attack from competitors. And, their new drug Spinraza for spinal muscular atrophy released in 2016 (treatment cost $750,000) is facing FDA approval of a similar drug from Norvartis. So where does Biogen go from here?
IMHO, They will delay a serious offer pending 2-73 success in one or more of its 3 trials this year or a possible poor results of the Aducanumab trial. 2018 will tell the tale.
AI
