Biogen Idec's Tysabri surpasses $1 billion in 2009 sales; fampridine filed in EU, Canada; development deal with Trillium

In a presentation to investors at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, USA, Biogen Idec's outgoing chief executive James Mullen outlined the company's plan to continue to drive shareholder value, and noted that the firm's multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab) had achieved blockbuster status with more than $1 billion in 200 sales as the number of patients on therapy grew by 30% over the prior year.

Based on data available to the company through the TOUCH prescribing program and other third-party sources, as of the end of December 2009, the company estimates that approximately 48,800 patients were on commercial and clinical Tysabri therapy worldwide. This includes approximately 24,500 on therapy commercially in the USA; and around 23,700 in the rest of the world, as well as about 600 clinical trial patients.

Mr Mullen, who will retire in June, reiterated that the company's business strategy is centered on the following areas to maximize shareholder value: