Biogen Idec to acquire Stromedix

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Drug maker Biogen Idec plans to spend up to more than $560 million to buy a company developing treatments for organ failure.



Biogen Idec announced that it would pay $75 million upfront, plus up to $487.5 million in milestone payments to acquire privately-owned biotech company Stromedix. Stromedix's lead drug candidate is STX-100, a monoclonal antibody entering phase-2 trials as a potential treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that causes difficulty breathing due to scarring of the lungs and is almost always fatal.



"Fibrotic organ failure, and in particular IPF, is a terrible disease with a high mortality rate, and there are no effective treatments at this time," Biogen Idec EVP research and development Douglas Williams said. "We believe STX-100 has the potential to be a best-in-class therapy, and it is an excellent strategic fit with our focus on highly differentiated programs with the potential to make a real difference for patients."

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