Biogen Idec - Big Biotech's Stock Report

Company: Biogen Idec
Starting stock price: $49.75
Ending stock price: $57.48
Percent Change: 16.26%

Scoop: Biogen Idec had quite the year. Let's look at the clinical side of things first. A Phase II trial for the humanized monoclonal antibody daclizumab [1] hit its primary endpoint for multiple sclerosis. And after being pulled from the market, Tysabri returned, sales recovered [2] and the drug even scored an additional indication [3] for Crohn's disease. In addition, there are signs that Biogen's blockbuster monoclonal antibody Rituxan [4] may offer a breakthrough for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Finally, Biogen began a late-stage trial for galiximab, an investigational anti-CD80 monoclonal antibody for lymphoma.

Now on to the real drama of the year: Biogen caused an uproar in October when it brought in some of Wall Streets top deal-makers to explore a possible sale of the company [5], which could have fetched well over $20 billion. But just two months later the company canceled plans [6] to sell, causing its stock to plummet more than 27 percent.

Current stock price (3/25): $61.19