Biogen tops quarterly profit estimates, eyes deals to build early-stage pipeline

Core Insights - Biogen exceeded Wall Street profit estimates for Q3, driven by strong sales of multiple sclerosis treatments, but lowered its annual profit forecast due to anticipated R&D charges [1][4] Financial Performance - Biogen reported Q3 earnings of $4.81 per share, surpassing expectations of $3.88 per share [4] - Sales of multiple sclerosis drugs, including Vumerity, increased nearly 1% to $1.06 billion, exceeding the combined estimate of $950.69 million [5] - The rare disease portfolio generated $533 million in sales for the quarter, reflecting an increase of nearly 8% year-over-year [5] Strategic Initiatives - The company is actively pursuing deals to enhance its early-stage pipeline, with expectations to announce at least one or two additional research-stage deals by year-end [2] - Earlier this year, Biogen licensed Vanqua Bio's experimental drug for up to $1.06 billion, indicating a focus on expanding its treatment offerings [3] Product Developments - Biogen's Alzheimer's treatment, Leqembi, saw global sales rise over 80% in Q3 to approximately $121 million, with U.S. sales growing nearly 10% to $69 million [3] - A new weekly under-the-skin injection version of Leqembi received U.S. approval in August, providing a more convenient administration option for patients [4] Future Outlook - The company adjusted its 2025 per-share profit forecast to a range of $14.50 to $15.00, down from a previous estimate of $15.50 to $16.00 [4]