Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen paid Carlsbad, Calif.-based Ionis $5 million as part of the companies' collaboration to develop drugs for neurologic diseases.
Here are five insights:
1. Ionis is currently focused on a new undisclosed neurological disease target.
2. The FDA recently approved Ionis' SPINRAZA, which is intended to treat pediatric and adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy.
3. Under the collaboration, Ionis has been able to commercialize SPINRAZA as well as develop four other drugs.
4. Ionis has also validated four other targets with potential drugs.
5. Ionis focuses on drug discovery and antisense therapies while Biogen works to develop therapies for neurological disorders.