Replies to post #136181 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

BIIB discloses unit sales of its MS drugs (as opposed to merely dollar sales) on quarterly CC’s. In the US market—the market of interest for MNTA due to its Copaxone program—4Q11 Avonex unit sales were down YoY (but flat QoQ), while 4Q11 Tysabri unit sales were +10% YoY.

From the 10% YoY growth in unit sales and the 21% YoY growth in dollar sales (#msg-71560226), we know that the average selling price of Tysabri in the US increased by 11% in 4Q11 vs 4Q10.

Source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/328632-biogen-idec-s-ceo-discusses-q4-2011-results-earnings-call-transcript

[DewDiligence]

1Q12 US Tysabri sales were $201M, +18% YoY; half of the 18% increase was attributable to volume and half was attributable to price increases:

http://pharma411.visibli.com/share/ftNWk7
http://seekingalpha.com/article/547121-biogen-idec-s-ceo-discusses-q1-2012-results-earnings-call-transcript

Relative to 4Q11, US Tysabri sales increased 2.5%.

p.s. BIIB deserves credit for disclosing the change in unit volume as well as dollar sales; more biotech companies ought to do that.