v3.25.2
Collaborative and Other Relationships
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Collaborative and Other Relationships
Note 19:
Collaborative and Other Relationships
Genentech, Inc. (Roche Group)
We have certain business and financial rights with respect to RITUXAN for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, CLL and other conditions; RITUXAN HYCELA for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and CLL; GAZYVA for the treatment of CLL and follicular lymphoma; OCREVUS for the treatment of PPMS and RMS; LUNSUMIO for the treatment of relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma; COLUMVI, a bispecific antibody for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; and have the option to add other potential anti-CD20 therapies, pursuant to our collaboration arrangements with Genentech, a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group. For purposes of this footnote, we refer to RITUXAN and RITUXAN HYCELA collectively as RITUXAN.
RITUXAN
Genentech and its affiliates are responsible for the worldwide manufacture of RITUXAN as well as all development and commercialization activities as follows:
U.S.: We have co-exclusively licensed our rights to develop, commercialize and market RITUXAN in the U.S.
Canada: We have co-exclusively licensed our rights to develop, commercialize and market RITUXAN in Canada.
GAZYVA
The Roche Group and its sub-licensees maintain sole responsibility for the development, manufacture and commercialization of GAZYVA in the U.S. The level of gross sales of GAZYVA in the U.S. has impacted our percentage of the co-promotion profits for RITUXAN and LUNSUMIO, as summarized in the table below.
OCREVUS
Pursuant to the terms of our collaboration arrangements with Genentech, we receive a tiered royalty on U.S. net sales from 13.5% and increasing up to 24.0% if annual net sales exceed $900.0 million. There will be a 50.0% reduction to these royalties upon the first entry of an FDA approved biosimilar to OCREVUS.
In addition, we receive a gross 3.0% royalty on net sales of OCREVUS outside the U.S., with the royalty period lasting 11 years from the first commercial sale of OCREVUS on a country-by-country basis.
The commercialization of OCREVUS does not impact the percentage of the co-promotion profits we receive for RITUXAN, LUNSUMIO or GAZYVA. Genentech is solely responsible for development and commercialization of OCREVUS and funding future costs. Genentech cannot develop OCREVUS in CLL, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or rheumatoid arthritis.
OCREVUS royalty revenue is based on our estimates from third party and market research data of OCREVUS sales occurring during the corresponding period. Differences between actual and estimated royalty revenue will be adjusted for in the period in which they become known, which is generally expected to be the following quarter.
LUNSUMIO
We are entitled to a tiered share of co-promotion operating profits and losses in the U.S., as summarized in the table below. In addition, we receive low-single digit royalties on sales of LUNSUMIO outside the U.S.
COLUMVI
Genentech has sole decision-making rights on the commercialization of COLUMVI within the U.S. and we receive tiered royalties in the mid-single digit range on net sales of COLUMVI in the U.S. Under the terms of this agreement, we have no payment obligations. The commercialization of COLUMVI does not impact the percentage of the co-promotion profits we receive for RITUXAN, LUNSUMIO or GAZYVA.
Profit-sharing Formulas
RITUXAN and LUNSUMIO Profit Share
Our current pretax co-promotion profit-sharing formula for RITUXAN and LUNSUMIO in the U.S. provides for a 30.0% share on the first $50.0 million of combined co-promotion operating profits earned each calendar year. As a result of the FDA approval of LUNSUMIO our share of the combined annual co-promotion profits for RITUXAN and LUNSUMIO in excess of $50.0 million varies upon the following events, as summarized in the table below:
After LUNSUMIO Approval until the First Threshold Date37.5 %
After First Threshold Date until the Second Threshold Date35.0 %
After Second Threshold Date30.0 %
First Threshold Date means the earlier of (i) the first day of the calendar quarter following the date U.S. gross sales of GAZYVA within any consecutive 12-month period have reached $500.0 million or (ii) the first date in any calendar year in which U.S. gross sales of LUNSUMIO have reached $150.0 million.
Second Threshold Date means the later of (i) the first date in any calendar year in which U.S. gross sales of LUNSUMIO have reached $350.0 million or (ii) January 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the First Threshold Date occurs.
In March 2023 the First Threshold Date was achieved. As a result, beginning in April 2023 the pre-tax profit share for RITUXAN and LUNSUMIO was 35.0%.
GAZYVA Profit Share
Our current pretax profit-sharing formula for GAZYVA provides for a 35.0% share of operating profits earned each calendar year.
For additional information on our collaboration arrangements with Genentech, please read Note 19, Collaborative and Other Relationships, to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2024 Form 10-K.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
2017 SMA Collaboration Agreement
In December 2017 we entered into a collaboration agreement with Ionis to identify new ASO drug candidates for the potential treatment of SMA. Under this agreement, we have options to license therapies arising out of this collaboration and will be responsible for the development and commercialization of such therapies.
In December 2021 we exercised our option with Ionis and obtained a worldwide, exclusive, royalty-bearing license to develop and commercialize salanersen (BIIB115), an investigational ASO in development for SMA.
We may pay Ionis up to $155.0 million in additional development and regulatory milestone payments related to salanersen, including a $45.0 million milestone payment due upon the initiation of a Phase 3 trial. Upon commercialization, we may also pay Ionis up to $400.0 million in additional performance-based milestone payments and tiered royalties on potential net sales of such therapies ranging from the mid-teens to high-twenties percentages.
For additional information on our collaboration arrangements with Ionis, please read Note 19, Collaborative and Other Relationships, to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2024 Form 10-K.
Eisai Co., Ltd.
LEQEMBI (lecanemab) Collaboration
We have a collaboration agreement with Eisai to jointly develop and commercialize LEQEMBI (lecanemab), an anti-amyloid antibody for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The FDA granted traditional approval of LEQEMBI in July 2023. Prior to receiving traditional approval, LEQEMBI had been granted accelerated approval by the FDA in January 2023, at which time it became commercially available in the U.S. Outside of the U.S., LEQEMBI is now approved in the E.U. (April 2025), China (January 2024), Japan (September 2023) and other international markets. Additionally, in January 2025 the FDA approved LEQEMBI monthly IV maintenance dosing for the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease.
All costs, including research, development, sales and marketing expense, are shared equally between us and Eisai. We also share profits and losses equally. We currently have a supply agreement with Eisai to manufacture LEQEMBI drug substance and drug product through the end of 2031.
Subject to the limitations in the LEQEMBI Collaboration Agreement, Eisai has final decision-making authority on all matters relating to the collaboration and serves as the lead of LEQEMBI development and regulatory submissions globally. We co-commercialize and co-promote LEQEMBI with Eisai. Our Collaboration Agreement provides that each commercialization plan shall allocate the responsibilities for the activities under the plan in an equitable fashion taking into account Biogen's and Eisai's respective capabilities and provides a meaningful role for each party.
Upon commercialization of LEQEMBI in the U.S., we began recognizing our 50.0% share of LEQEMBI product revenue, net and cost of sales, including royalties, within Alzheimer's collaboration revenue in our condensed consolidated statements of income, as we are not the principal.
Our share of LEQEMBI sales and marketing expense and development expense are recorded within selling, general and administrative expense and research and development expense, respectively, within our condensed consolidated statements of income.
A summary of development and sales and marketing expense related to the LEQEMBI Collaboration is as follows:
For the Three Months Ended June 30,For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)2025202420252024
Total development expense incurred by the collaboration related to the advancement of LEQEMBI$54.9 $90.6 $107.5 $177.9 
Biogen's share of the LEQEMBI Collaboration development expense reflected in research and development expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income27.5 45.4 53.8 89.0 
Total sales and marketing expense incurred by the LEQEMBI Collaboration
171.2 137.7 348.9 311.6 
Biogen's share of the LEQEMBI Collaboration sales and marketing expense reflected in selling, general and administrative expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income85.7 68.9 174.5 155.8 
Amounts receivable from Eisai related to the agreements discussed above were approximately $143.4 million and $16.7 million as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Amounts payable to Eisai related to the agreements discussed above were approximately $97.5 million and $138.0 million as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
For additional information on our collaboration arrangements with Eisai, please read Note 19, Collaborative and Other Relationships, to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2024 Form 10-K.
UCB
We have a collaboration agreement with UCB, effective November 2003, to jointly develop and commercialize dapirolizumab pegol, an anti-CD40L pegylated Fab, for the potential treatment of SLE and other future agreed indications. Either we or UCB may propose development of dapirolizumab pegol in additional indications. If the parties do not agree to add an indication as an agreed indication to the collaboration, we or UCB may, at the sole expense of the applicable party, pursue development in such excluded indication(s), subject to an opt-in right of the non-pursuing party after proof of clinical activity.
All costs incurred for agreed indications, including research, development, sales and marketing expense, are shared equally between us and UCB. If marketing approval is obtained, both companies will jointly commercialize dapirolizumab pegol and share profits and losses equally.
A summary of development expense related to the UCB collaboration agreement is as follows:
For the Three Months Ended June 30,For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)2025202420252024
Total UCB collaboration development expense$17.8 $16.5 $39.6 $33.1 
Biogen's share of UCB collaboration development expense reflected in research and development expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income8.9 8.3 19.8 16.6 
Sage Therapeutics, Inc.
In November 2020 we entered into a global collaboration and license agreement with Sage to jointly develop and commercialize ZURZUVAE (zuranolone) for the treatment of PPD.
Under this collaboration, both companies will share equal responsibility and costs for development as well as profits and losses for commercialization in the U.S. Outside of the U.S., we are responsible for development and commercialization, excluding Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, with respect to zuranolone and may pay Sage potential tiered royalties in the high-teens to low-twenties percentages. During the fourth quarter of 2023 we accrued a milestone payment due to Sage of $75.0 million upon the first commercial sale of ZURZUVAE for PPD in the U.S., which was recorded within intangible assets, net in our condensed consolidated balance sheets, and subsequently paid in January 2024.
We share 50.0% of the net collaboration results in the U.S. with Sage, which are recognized in collaboration profit sharing/(loss reimbursement) in our condensed consolidated statements of income. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, we recognized net profit-sharing expense of approximately $17.8 million and $27.9 million, respectively, to reflect Sage's 50.0% share of the net collaboration results in the U.S., compared to net profit-sharing expense of approximately $6.5 million and $11.5 million, respectively, in the prior year comparative periods.
A summary of development and sales and marketing expense related to the Sage collaboration is as follows:
For the Three Months Ended June 30,For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)2025202420252024
Total Sage collaboration development expense$1.5 $9.6 $3.9 $21.2 
Biogen's share of Sage collaboration development expense reflected in research and development expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income0.8 4.8 2.0 10.6 
Total sales and marketing expense incurred by the Sage collaboration45.7 26.9 89.2 54.5 
Biogen's share of Sage collaboration sales and marketing expense reflected in selling, general and administrative expense and collaboration profit sharing/(loss reimbursement) in our condensed consolidated statements of income22.9 13.5 44.6 27.3 
In June 2025 Sage announced it entered into a definitive agreement for Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to acquire Sage, with the transaction expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.
As set forth in the amended Schedule 13D we filed with the SEC on July 30, 2025, we have disposed of all of our shares of Sage common stock in a block trade.
Denali Therapeutics Inc.
In August 2020 we entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Denali to co-develop and co-commercialize BIIB122, a small molecule inhibitor of LRRK2 for Parkinson's disease (LRRK2 Collaboration).
Under the LRRK2 Collaboration, both companies share responsibility and costs for global development based on specified percentages as well as profits and losses for commercialization in the U.S. and China. Outside the U.S. and China we are responsible for commercialization and may pay Denali potential tiered royalties.
A summary of development expense related to the Denali collaboration is as follows:
For the Three Months Ended June 30,For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)2025202420252024
Total Denali collaboration development expense$12.1 $15.4 $24.9 $29.6 
Biogen's share of Denali collaboration development expense reflected in research and development expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income7.2 9.3 14.9 17.8 
Stoke Therapeutics, Inc.
In February 2025 we entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Stoke to co-develop and commercialize zorevunersen, an investigational ASO that targets the SCN1A gene for the potential treatment of Dravet syndrome, a rare form of genetic epilepsy associated with refractory seizures and neurodevelopmental impairments.
Under the terms of this agreement, Stoke will continue to lead global development and retain exclusive development and commercialization rights for zorevunersen in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and we will have exclusive rights to commercialize zorevunersen in the rest of the world. Both companies will share responsibility for external clinical development costs, where Stoke is responsible for 70.0% of these development costs and we are responsible for the remaining 30.0% of these development costs.
In connection with the closing of this transaction we made an upfront payment of $165.0 million to Stoke, which was recognized as acquired in-process research and development, upfront and milestone expense within our condensed consolidated statements of income for the six months ended June 30, 2025. We may also pay Stoke potential development and commercial milestone payments of up to $50.0 million and $335.0 million, respectively, if all the specified milestones set forth in this collaboration are achieved. In addition, we may pay Stoke tiered royalties on potential net sales of any products developed under this collaboration in the low-double digit to high-teen percentages.
We also have an exclusive option to license certain future follow-on ASO products targeting the SCN1A gene in all territories worldwide other than the U.S., Canada and Mexico, in exchange for separate milestone, cost sharing and royalty considerations.
A summary of development expense related to the Stoke collaboration agreement is as follows:
(In millions)For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2025For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2025
Total Stoke collaboration development expense$8.9 $12.8 
Biogen's share of Stoke collaboration development expense reflected in research and development expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income2.6 3.8 
Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd.
2019 Development and Commercialization Agreement
In December 2019 we completed a transaction with Samsung Bioepis and secured the exclusive rights to commercialize two potential ophthalmology biosimilar products, BYOOVIZ, a ranibizumab biosimilar referencing LUCENTIS, and OPUVIZ, an aflibercept biosimilar referencing EYLEA, in major markets worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia. The agreement established that Samsung Bioepis will be responsible for development and will supply both products to us at a pre-specified gross margin of approximately 45.0%.
In October 2024 we notified Samsung Bioepis of our decision to terminate our 2019 Development and Commercialization Agreement (the DCA Agreement) solely within the U.S. and Canada. As a result of this termination we recognized impairment charges of approximately $20.2 million, which were recorded within amortization and impairment of acquired intangible assets within our consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2024, included in our 2024 Form 10-K. Biogen will transfer commercialization rights for BYOOVIZ and OPUVIZ in the U.S. and Canada back to Samsung Bioepis over a period of up to 18 months. During this transition period, we will continue to commercialize BYOOVIZ. The termination does not impact the other markets in the DCA Agreement.
We may pay Samsung Bioepis up to approximately $150.0 million for achieving additional sales-based milestones associated with the remaining major markets covered by the agreement.
2013 Commercial Agreement
In December 2013 we entered into an agreement with Samsung Bioepis to commercialize, over a 10-year term, three anti-TNF biosimilar product candidates which include IMRALDI, an adalimumab biosimilar referencing HUMIRA, FLIXABI, an infliximab biosimilar referencing REMICADE, and BENEPALI, an etanercept biosimilar referencing ENBREL, in Europe.
In July 2024 we exercised an option to extend this agreement by an additional five years and paid Samsung Bioepis an option exercise fee of $60.0 million, which was recognized in intangible assets, net within our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024.
We reflect revenue on sales of BENEPALI, IMRALDI and FLIXABI to third parties in product revenue, net in our condensed consolidated statements of income and record the related cost of revenue and sales and marketing expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income to their respective line items when these costs are incurred. Royalty payments to AbbVie on sales of IMRALDI are recognized in cost of sales within our condensed consolidated statements of income.
We share 50.0% of the profit or loss related to our 2013 commercial agreement with Samsung Bioepis, which is recognized in collaboration profit sharing/(loss reimbursement) in our condensed consolidated statements of income. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, we recognized net profit-sharing expense of approximately $57.2 million and $105.2 million, respectively, to reflect Samsung Bioepis' 50.0% sharing of the net collaboration profits, compared to net profit-sharing expense of approximately $55.9 million and $116.5 million, respectively, in the prior year comparative periods.
Other Services
Simultaneous with the formation of Samsung Bioepis, we also entered into a license agreement with Samsung Bioepis. Under this license agreement, we granted Samsung Bioepis an exclusive license to use, develop, manufacture and commercialize biosimilar products created by Samsung Bioepis using Biogen product-specific technology. In exchange, we receive single-digit royalties on biosimilar products developed and commercialized by Samsung Bioepis. Royalty revenue under the license agreement is recognized as a component of contract manufacturing, royalty and other revenue in our condensed consolidated statements of income.
Amounts receivable from Samsung Bioepis related to the agreements discussed above were approximately $5.0 million and $7.6 million as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Amounts payable to Samsung Bioepis related to the agreements discussed above were zero and $60.8 million as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
For additional information on our collaboration arrangements with Samsung Bioepis and our other significant collaboration arrangements, please read Note 19, Collaborative and Other Relationships, to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2024 Form 10-K.
Other Research and Discovery Arrangements and Funding Arrangements
These arrangements may include the potential for future milestone payments based on the achievement of certain clinical and commercial development payable over a period of several years.
Royalty Pharma Funding Arrangement
In February 2025 we entered into a funding agreement with Royalty Pharma under which we will receive up to $200.0 million in 2025 and up to $50.0 million in 2026 to co-fund our development costs for the litifilimab program. As there is a substantive transfer of risk to the financial partner for the amount invested, the development funding will be recognized by us as an obligation to perform contractual services. We plan to recognize this funding as a reduction to research and development expense within our condensed consolidated statements of income, proportionate to the related expense. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, we recorded reductions to research and development expense of $50.0 million and $100.0 million, respectively, within our condensed consolidated statements of income.
If the litifilimab clinical trials are successful for the indications based on the applicable clinical trials, upon regulatory approval in the U.S. or certain major markets in the world, Royalty Pharma will be eligible to receive approval-based fixed milestone payments of up to a total of $250.0 million. The milestone payments due upon approval will be recorded as a component of other (income) expense, net within our condensed consolidated statements of income, when incurred.
If litifilimab receives regulatory approval, Royalty Pharma will be eligible to receive royalties of a mid-single digit percentage of the applicable net sales. Royalties on net sales will be recorded as cost of sales within our condensed consolidated statements of income.
MorphoSys AG
As part of our acquisition of HI-Bio in July 2024, we acquired HI-Bio's pre-existing in-license commitments under third-party agreements with MorphoSys, which included tiered royalties on potential future sales ranging from high-single digit to mid-teen percentages, as well as potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to $130.0 million, $230.0 million and $640.0 million, respectively. These amounts included milestone payments due upon the first patient dosed in a Phase 3 clinical trial of felzartamab in a first and second indication of $35.0 million and $30.0 million, respectively.
During the first quarter of 2025 we accrued a milestone payment due to MorphoSys of $35.0 million upon the first patient dosed in a Phase 3 clinical trial of felzartamab for the treatment of AMR, which was recorded within acquired in-process research and development, upfront and milestone expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income for the six months ended June 30, 2025, and subsequently paid in April 2025.
During the second quarter of 2025 we accrued a milestone payment due to MorphoSys of $30.0 million upon the first patient dosed in a Phase 3 clinical trial of felzartamab for the treatment of IgAN, which was recorded within acquired in-process research and development, upfront and milestone expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, and subsequently paid in July 2025.
City Therapeutics, Inc.
In May 2025 we entered into a strategic research arrangement with City Therapeutics to develop select novel RNAi therapies. Through this arrangement, City Therapeutics will leverage its next-generation RNAi engineering technologies to develop an RNAi trigger molecule combined with our proprietary drug delivery technology. The collaboration will initially focus on a single target that mediates key central nervous system diseases, utilizing tissue enhanced delivery technologies with the aim of allowing for systemic administration of medicines. We will be responsible for IND-enabling studies and global clinical development along with any regulatory submissions and all activities related to commercialization.
In connection with the closing of this transaction we made an upfront payment of $16.0 million to City Therapeutics, which was recognized as acquired in-process research and development, upfront and milestone expense within our condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, and invested $30.0 million in exchange for a City Therapeutics convertible note, representing a minority equity interest in City Therapeutics, if converted. This convertible note was recorded as a component of investments and other assets within our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2025.
We may also pay City Therapeutics potential research, development and sales-based milestone payments of up to $21.5 million, $360.0 million and $625.0 million, respectively, plus tiered royalties on potential future net sales, ranging from high-single digit to low-double digit percentages.
We also have the option to select one additional target in the collaboration, subject to an additional payment and availability of the target.