Biogen Completes Acquisition of Alcyone Therapeutics

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) has completed the acquisition of Alcyone Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company known for its innovative CNS therapy delivery solutions, such as the ThecaFlex DRx™ drug delivery system.

ThecaFlex DRx™ is an investigational implantable device designed to provide an alternative to repeat lumbar punctures in chronic intrathecal administration of medicines, which could ease both patient experience and accessibility for a broader population of people living with neurologic disorders.

ThecaFlex DRx™ has been in development since 2019, with the PIERRE and PIERRE-PK clinical studies for nusinersen currently underway. Nusinersen is currently marketed under the brand name SPINRAZA® and is indicated for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in pediatric and adult patients. Biogen plans to introduce the new drug delivery system for SPINRAZA in early 2028, contingent upon the successful completion of clinical trials and regulatory approval.

"The ThecaFlex DRx™ allows us to merge Biogen's cutting-edge biopharmaceutical innovation with advanced medical device technology to strengthen Biogen's portfolio and expand our expertise in pioneering new delivery methods," said Lisa Shafer, Head of CMC Development, Product Delivery Solutions at Biogen. "This acquisition affirms our continued commitment to drug delivery solutions with the potential to enhance the patient experience and enable greater accessibility to Biogen's therapies."

About The ThecaFlex DRx™ System

The ThecaFlex DRx™ System (ThecaFlex), a technology within Alcyone's Falcon™ Delivery Platform, is an investigational implantable intrathecal (IT) catheter, catheter fixation device and subcutaneous port system designed to provide access to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the infusion of therapies by IT bolus administration. Lumbar puncture (LP) is the current standard of care approach to delivering therapeutics into the CSF. ThecaFlex is designed to be an alternative to repeated LP. ThecaFlex has received a CE Mark in Europe and IDE (Investigational Device Exemption) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a clinical investigation but has not yet been approved for commercial use by FDA. In addition, ThecaFlex has received Breakthrough Device Designation from FDA.

About SPINRAZA

SPINRAZA (nusinersen) 12mg/5 mL injection is approved in more than 71 countries to treat infants, children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). As a foundation of care in SMA, more than 14,000 individuals have been treated with SPINRAZA worldwide.¹

SPINRAZA has shown efficacy across ages and SMA types with a well-established safety profile based on data in patients treated up to 10 years,^2,3 combined with unsurpassed real-world experience. The most common adverse events observed in clinical studies were respiratory infection, fever, constipation, headache, vomiting and back pain. Laboratory tests can monitor for renal toxicity and coagulation abnormalities, including acute severe low platelet counts, which have been observed after administration of some ASOs. 

Biogen licensed the global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize SPINRAZA from Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS). Please click here for Important Safety Information and full Prescribing Information for SPINRAZA in the U.S. or visit your respective country's product website.

The high dose regimen of SPINRAZA (nusinersen) was recently approved in Japan and is actively under review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other global regulators. The high dose regimen of nusinersen is currently under review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with a decision expected by April 3, 2026.

About Biogen

Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines to transform patient's lives and to create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply deep understanding of human biology and leverage different modalities to advance first-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior outcomes. Our approach is to take bold risks, balanced with return on investment to deliver long-term growth.

The company routinely posts information that may be important to investors on its website at www.biogen.com. Follow Biogen on social media – Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements, relating to: our acquisition of Alcyone Therapeutics; the anticipated and potential benefits of the transaction, including the potential to strengthen our portfolio, expand expertise in pioneering delivery methods and enable accessibility to therapies; the potential to enhance patient experiences; our strategy and plans; potential of, and expectations for, the development of ThecaFlex DRx™, nusinersen and our other commercial business and pipeline programs, including the timing for potential availability of a new delivery system for SPINRAZA; clinical development programs, clinical trials, and data readouts and presentations; regulatory discussions, submissions, filings, and approvals; the potential benefits, safety, and efficacy of our products and investigational therapies; and our future financial and operating results. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as "aim," "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "contemplate," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "hope," "intend," "may," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "prospect," "should," "target," "will," "would" or the negative of these words or other words and terms of similar meaning. Drug development and commercialization involve a high degree of risk, and only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Results in early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of full results or results from later stage or larger scale clinical trials and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements.

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These statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information and estimates available to us at this time. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and in our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K, in each case including in the sections thereof captioned "Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in our subsequent reports on Form 8-K. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

References:

1. Based on commercial patients, early access patients, and clinical trial participants through December 31, 2022. 
2. Core Data sheet, Version 13, October 2021. SPINRAZA. Biogen Inc, Cambridge, MA.
3. Finkle et al. Cure SMA 2024. "Final Safety and Efficacy Data From the SHINE Study in Participants With Infantile-Onset and Later-Onset SMA."