JPM21: Biogen faces make-or-break year, Vertex mulls deals and Sarepta pitches a silver lining

On Monday, Biogen CEO Michel Vountasos pointed to several milestones outside of aducanumab that could soften the blow if things don’t go well. Its biosimilars business is growing, he noted, as is its revenue base outside of the U.S. Spinraza, a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, remains the top-selling medicine for the disease, despite emerging competition, and the company is working to bolster its position. Several Phase 3 trials could produce results this year, including three under a brain drug alliance Biogen forged with Sage Therapeutics in November.