Product Pipeline

Biogen and Elan Corporation have established a worldwide, exclusive collaboration to develop, manufacture, and commercialize ANTEGREN® (natalizumab), a humanized monoclonal antibody that recently completed Phase II clinical testing for multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease.

Antegren, which was discovered by Elan, is a humanized monoclonal antibody and the first in a new class of potential therapeutics known as alpha 4 integrin inhibitors that are designed to block immune cell adhesion to blood vessel walls and subsequent migration of lymphocytes into tissue. Antegren binds to the cell surface receptors known as alpha-4-beta-1 (VLA-4) and alpha-4-beta-7. Antegren may be useful in the treatment of a range of inflammatory and non-inflammatory diseases. Both Elan and Biogen are pioneers in the study of this pathway. In December 2001, Biogen and Elan began Phase III trials in MS and Crohn's disease.