FDA OKs Biogen's New MS Drug Syringe
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Posted by Reuters on May 29, 2003 at 07:03:29:
Thursday May 29, 9:51 am ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Biogen Inc. (NasdaqNM:BGEN - News) said it won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (News - Websites) to sell a prefilled syringe version of its top-selling multiple sclerosis drug, Avonex. The prefilled syringe should make it more convenient to use the drug, which is administered by injection once-a-week, the company said. Biogen, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is battling to retain market share in the face of newer competitors such as Serono's (SEOZ.VX) Rebif. Rebif is already administered in a prefilled syringe, but must be taken more often than once a week. Amy Brockelman, a Biogen spokeswoman, declined to say how much the company will charge for the prefilled version of the drug, which will be launched in August. However, she said the approval "doesn't change the financial guidance that has been provided by our chief financial officer."
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