Hello, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, especially since the middle of the week is upon us. After all, we have made it this far so we are determined to hang on for another couple of days. And why not? The alternatives — at least those we can identify — are not so appetizing. And what better way to make the time fly than to keep busy. So grab that cup of stimulation and get started. Our flavor today is glazed doughnut — sweets for the sweet, you know? Meanwhile, you might want to mark your calendar for an upcoming chat about biosimilars. We hope you have a lovely day, and do keep in touch. …
Seven months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved a Biogen treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, only about 2,000 patients are taking the medicine nationwide, The Boston Globe tell us. Biogen chief executive officer Christopher Viehbacher maintained that he had expected the slow uptake and sees considerable demand for the medication. About 3,800 patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s have signed up on multiple registries to receive the drug, called Leqembi, as of last month, he added. Biogen and its business partner, Eisai, had previously said they hoped to have 10,000 patients on the drug by April. But Viehbacher said that was only an estimate.
Meanwhile, Biogen has received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice seeking information relating to its business operations in several foreign countries, according to a regulatory filing (see page 77). The company is also providing information on its foreign business operations to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Last year, the company disclosed that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the SEC had both asked for information on the approval and marketing of its Aduhelm treatment for Alzheimer’s disease following controversy about the regulatory approval process.