Biogen Pharmaceutical Information

About Biogen Pharmaceuticals

**** Copied verbatim from the Biogen website. (Link in HELPFUL LINKS page) ****

• One of the pioneers in biotechnology, Biogen today has the leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), has the first and only approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and is at the forefront of research into new medicines for neurological and neurodegenerative conditions. Led by world-class research and development, Biogen uses novel science and leading-edge technologies to create, commercialize, and manufacture transformative therapies for patients with few or no treatment options.
• It is our belief that no other area of medicine holds as much promise with as much need as neuroscience. With our foundation of almost four decades of expertise in neurology, we aim to be the leader in this area by developing transformational therapies to address what we believe are becoming the world’s most significant unmet medical needs.

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About Spinraza

**** Copied verbatim from the Biogen website. (Link in HELPFUL LINKS page) ****

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved SPINRAZA® (nusinersen) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in pediatric and adult patients. SPINRAZA is the first and only treatment approved in the U.S. for SMA, a leading genetic cause of death in infants and toddlers that is marked by progressive, debilitating muscle weakening.
• In ENDEAR, a pivotal controlled clinical study, infantile-onset SMA patients treated with SPINRAZA achieved and sustained clinically meaningful improvement in motor function compared to untreated study participants. In addition, a greater percentage of patients on SPINRAZA survived compared to untreated patients. Open-label studies support the effectiveness of SPINRAZA across a broad range of SMA patients. In these studies, rather than experiencing progressive declines, some patients achieved milestones such as the ability to sit unassisted, stand or walk.
• The most common adverse reactions reported for SPINRAZA were upper respiratory infection, lower respiratory infection and constipation. Serious adverse reactions of atelectasis were more frequent in SPINRAZA-treated patients. Coagulation abnormalities and thrombocytopenia, including acute severe thrombocytopenia, have been observed after administration of some antisense oligonucleotides. Renal toxicity, including potentially fatal glomerulonephritis, has been observed after administration of some antisense oligonucleotides.