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`Biogen profit beats estimates, raises 2013 forecast
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`BY BILL BERKROT
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`Biogen Idec Inc (BIIB.O) reported higherthanexpected first quarter profit on Thursday and
`raised its full year forecasts, and the U.S. biotechnology said it sees its new drug Tecfidera
`becoming the leading oral medicine for multiple sclerosis.
`
`Biogen management declined to give any sales details from Tecfidera's first few weeks on
`the market, but Chief Executive George Scangos called the March 27 U.S. approval "a
`watershed event for our company."
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`Shares in the company jumped 4.3 percent in early trading to $215.00 on Nasdaq.
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`Tecfidera is widely seen as Biogen's most important future growth driver, with analysts
`estimating 2013 sales of about $300 million and eventual peak sales in excess of $3 billion.
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`The new drug is expected to gain European approval during the current quarter, with an
`initial launch in Germany, followed by other European nations in 2014, the company said.
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`Biogen also said it expects to launch two new longacting drugs for the hereditary blood
`disorder hemophilia in 2014.
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`Tecfidera is the third oral MS drug on the market, but is expected to eclipse both Gilenya,
`sold by Novartis AG NOVN.VX, and Sanofi's (SASY.PA) Aubagio due to its favorable safety
`profile and efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials.
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`Biogen's stock has advanced more than 40 percent so far this year and has nearly
`quadrupled over the past three years, largely driven by positive Tecfidera data and
`expectations for its future sales potential.
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`The company's quarterly results were helped by low taxes and sales growth of its older
`injectable multiple sclerosis treatments, Avonex and Tysabri.
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`Biogen said it now expects earnings, excluding items, of $7.80 to $7.90 per share, up from
`its prior view of $7.15 to $7.25 per share. The company now sees fullyear revenue growth
`of 16 percent to 18 percent. It had previously projected 10 percent growth. Analysts are
`estimating adjusted earnings of $7.81 per share on revenue of $6.44 billion.
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`Biogen said it raised the forecast due to its greater share of Tysabri revenue following a
`deal last month with partner Elan Corp ELN.I, a tax benefit seen in the first quarter, and
`strength in its core business.
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`"We are on a very promising trajectory for the remainder of the year and for years to come,"
`Scangos told analysts on a conference call.
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`TYSABRI BOOSTS REVENUE
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`Biogen said it had a net profit of $426.8 million, or $1.79 per share, in the first quarter, up
`from $302.7 million, or $1.25 per share, in the year earlier period.
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`Biogen Exhibit 2075
`Coalition v. Biogen
`IPR2015-01993
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`Excluding special items, the company earned $1.97 per share, topping analysts' average
`forecasts by 36 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
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`The results were helped by a $33 million tax benefit and other tax credits that added 16
`cents a share to net profit. Its tax rate for the quarter was just 13.2 percent.
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`Total revenue grew 10 percent to $1.42 billion, matching Wall Street expectations.
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`Sales of Avonex jumped 13 percent to $746 million, edging past Wall Street estimates of
`about $740 million.
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`Elan, which shares revenue from the MS drug Tysabri with Biogen, said on Wednesday
`that global sales of the medicine grew 14 percent in the quarter to $456 million. That, too,
`was a bit better than Wall Street estimates of about $447 million.
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`Beginning in May, Biogen will get a far higher percentage of Tysabri sales after the
`company paid Elan $3.25 billion to gain full rights to the lucrative product. Under the
`agreement, Elan will get just 12 percent of global Tysabri sales for the first 12 months,
`rising to 18 percent after that.
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`Scangos addressed an article in this week's New England Journal of Medicine, which
`attracted the attention of analysts. The report detailed four previously known cases of
`patients who suffered a potentially fatal brain infection, known as PML, after taking a drug
`for psoriasis that used an active ingredient also in Tecfidera.
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`Scangos stressed that there have been no cases of PML or other serious infections with
`Tecfidera.
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`"It's hard to understand why these old reports are deemed worthy of publishing. This is old
`news," he said.
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`(Additional reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Jeff Benkoe and Bernadette Baum)
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