Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB)
On February 15, 2018, Merck discontinued a phase 3 trial of their BACE1 inhibitor, verubecestat, adding the potential Alzheimer’s treatment to a growing list of clinical failures from pharmaceutical companies. This shook investor confidence in Biogen who also has a BACE1 inhibitor currently in late-stage testing. However, Biogen’s leading Alzheimer’s candidate, aducanumab, takes a different approach than BACE1 inhibitors by reducing amyloid plaques in the brain vs. preventing the build-up. Biogen’s expansion by 510 patients in aducanumab’s late-stage study to confront the high variability in the primary endpoint has increased fears of another industry failure. With earnings over $22 this year the stock seems very cheap.
From Jeff Auxier (Trades, Portfolio)'s first-quarter 2018 shareholder letter.
