Biogen Announces Name of Hemophilia Spin-Off Business

On August 9, 2016 Biogen announced that Bioverativ will be the name of the standalone, publicly-traded global biotechnology company that Biogen expects to launch in early 2017. Bioverativ will be focused on the discovery, research, development, and commercialization of treatments for hemophilia and other blood disorders.

Biogen announced its plan to spin-off its hemophilia business in a May 2016 press release, with a strategic goal to create two focused companies dedicated to driving current and future value in their respective therapeutic areas. In the press release Biogen said, Bioverativ plans to accelerate the development of bispecific antibodies and hemophilia-related gene therapy programs.

According to Biogen, Bioverativ will continue commercialization of Eloctate (Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein) and Alprolix (Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein), indicated for the treatment of hemophilia A and B, under Biogen's existing collaboration agreement with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ)(Sobi). After the spin-off, Bioverativ expects to continue development of Eloctate and Alprolix, including conducting studies to explore the potential benefits of Fc fusion technology on long-term joint health, immunogenicity, and immune tolerance induction in hemophilia patients who develop inhibitors.

Bioverativ will also focus on advancing pipeline programs that address areas of unmet need in hemophilia and other blood disorders, including programs studying longer-acting factor therapies that utilize XTEN technology, a non-factor bi-specific antibody program to treat patients with hemophilia A and patients with inhibitors, and gene-therapy programs for hemophilia A and B, as well as ongoing research relating to sickle cell disease.

Source: Biogen