Backgrounder

In 1978 a group of internationally acclaimed scientists met in Geneva, Switzerland to create a new biotechnology company. These scientists were leaders in genetic engineering and saw the potential of harnessing the power of human genes to develop novel therapeutics that improve the quality of people’s lives. Two of these scientists - Phillip Sharp of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Walter Gilbert of Harvard University - would later receive Nobel Prizes for their work. This initial meeting was the genesis of Biogen.

Today, Biogen remains the world’s oldest independent biotechnology company. The drive to discover that initially brought these scientists together 25 years ago is stronger than ever. The results are impressive: dedication, compassion and scientific proficiency have fueled the company’s robust product pipeline.

Biogen’s corporate revenues are generated from worldwide sales of AVONEX® (Interferon beta-1a), for treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), and AMEVIVE® (alefacept), for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. In addition, Biogen receives revenues from the worldwide sales by licensees of a number of products, including Schering-Plough’s Intron® A (Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) and hepatitis B vaccines sold by Merck and GlaxoSmithKline. AVONEX is the world’s leading treatment for MS with more than 120,000 patients on therapy.

With these revenue streams forming a solid financial base, Biogen has built a global operating biotechnology company with the capabilities to research, develop, manufacture and market its own products. A pioneer in leading edge research in immunology, neurobiology and oncology, Biogen brings novel therapies to improve the quality of patients’ lives around the world through its global marketing capabilities.

In addition to Biogen’s promising portfolio of drug candidates, the company’s capacity for protein manufacturing is also world-class in quality and scale. Biogen is one of a handful of biotechnology companies that has two licensed and dedicated biological bulk-manufacturing facilities that are fully validated and approved to meet worldwide requirements - one in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and one in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. In addition, the company’s newest resource, a 250,000 square-foot, large-scale manufacturing in Research Triangle Park has further enhanced the capacity to manufacture bulk protein and is one of the largest cell culture facilities in the world. Biogen also plans to build another large-scale manufacturing facility in Hillerød, Denmark, further enhancing the company’s leadership in this important area.

The company’s worldwide headquarters are in Cambridge, MA and its international headquarters are located in Paris. Biogen also has offices located in Canada, Japan, Australia and throughout Europe. The company currently employs 2,700 people worldwide.