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Biogen Idec Inc., the world’s largest maker of multiple sclerosis medicines, is on the hunt for new compounds to treat MS and other neurodegenerative diseases, and may purchase companies outright or partner with them, the company’s research chief said.

Biogen is “very actively” reviewing licensing and acquisition possibilities with companies that have drugs in the first two stages of testing needed for regulatory approval, Doug Williams, executive vice president of the Weston, Massachusetts- based biotechnology company, said today in an interview. Treatments for immunology and hematology are areas of interest, he said.......Read More - http://tinyurl.com/LatestMSNews

.... they are smart, following where the debate goes: see e.g. on http://www.thisisms.com/ftopic-15188-165.html
I guess they are opening up a new line besides their existing "neurology treatment" line.

I have seen the medical sector argue: we do not follow the social fora, the social fora do not dictate or even influence the research agenda etc etc..

I think this picture is not as black and white as they would want us to believe. I think what is happening out there is much more subtle, and because the debate is now so huge, any causal relationships will be very difficult to prove or to disprove. but the relationships are there, and they are there to stay. this is all about society changing ..
see this recent G8 declaration, point II on the Internet, on e.g. http://www.medialaws.eu/g8-declaration- ... democracy/

Biogen Idec Inc., the world’s largest maker of multiple sclerosis medicines, is on the hunt for new compounds to treat MS and other neurodegenerative diseases, and may purchase companies outright or partner with them, the company’s research chief said.

Their marketing/sales people are among the best around and they pounce on every opportunity to keep the revenue flow coming.

Avonex, even though it is the least expensive of the CRAB's ,has been losing market share for quite some time and we are very aware of the problems associated with Tysabri. The new orals look like they are really going to cut into the market share of Ty although some people feel the nasty side of the orals is yet to make an appearance.

The market share for MS drugs is a battleground with billions of dollars of revenue going to the winner. It's too bad the market success doesn't equate to the efficacy level. But that is another story.

Harry