Christopher Viehbacher on corporate strategy
From Biogen Inc ($BIIB) Q1 2025 Earnings Call · · Castify Earnings Call
“Biogen is really a tale of two companies in my view. There's one company which has been an MS company and that portfolio as you all know has been gradually declining. But there's a new Biogen emerging and when I look at the rare disease business and Aduhelm or Leqembi and the Kelsadi and Vimemerity we actually have a commercial portfolio that we're actively promoting that's now gotten to be about 45% of our product revenue and those products mostly have a very long runway to continue to grow.”
On , Christopher Viehbacher, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director at Biogen, spoke about corporate strategy during Biogen Inc ($BIIB) Q1 2025 Earnings Call on Castify Earnings Call.
About Christopher Viehbacher
On Biogen's first quarter 2025 earnings call, Christopher Viehbacher described the company as "a tale of two companies," noting that its multiple sclerosis portfolio has been "gradually declining" while a "new Biogen" is emerging. He stated that the company's actively promoted commercial portfolio, including rare disease drugs and Alzheimer's treatments, now accounts for about 45% of product revenue. Viehbacher called Leqembi "the first disease modifying agent that has ever been approved in Alzheimer's" and said that having regulatory endorsement is "extremely important." Viehbacher said Biogen does not expect a material impact in 2025 from potential tariffs, even if the pharmaceutical exemption were removed, citing U.S.-based manufacturing and global inventory positions. He noted that Biogen is open to partnering on excess manufacturing capacity, mentioning that its Solothurn facility is doing contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business and that its Research Triangle Park facility already manufactures for third parties. He also stated that Biogen has a goal of signing four to five new research collaborations in 2025.