Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Biogen Inc. / Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

2017 · Licensing/Option · $710M · Complete

CALLED IT — OFF BY 23

Not a real acquisition — BMS out-licensed an anti-tau antibody to Biogen for ~$300M upfront in 2017, and the asset failed in both diseases it was tested in.

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The coverage arc

Apr 13, 2017 Boston Globe Bullish

Biogen's $300M licensing of BMS-986168 expands its neurodegenerative franchise with a Phase 2-ready anti-tau antibody, complementing its amyloid-focused…

Dec 13, 2019 ALZFORUM Bearish

Gosuranemab, Biogen's anti-tau immunotherapy, did not fly for PSP — the Phase 2 PASSPORT trial missed primary and secondary endpoints, deepening doubts about…

Jun 15, 2021 FierceBiotech Bearish

Biogen's $300M bet on the Alzheimer's tau drug snapped up from Bristol Myers flames out in Phase 2, after the TANGO trial missed its primary endpoint and…

Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.

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Biogen exclusively licensed worldwide rights to BMS-986168, a Phase 2-ready anti-extracellular tau antibody, from Bristol-Myers Squibb. BMS received $300M upfront plus up to $410M in development/commercial milestones plus tiered royalties. Biogen planned to advance Phase 2 studies in PSP and Alzheimer's, expanding its neurodegenerative pipeline.

Did it work? Outcome assessment

Not a real acquisition — BMS out-licensed an anti-tau antibody to Biogen for ~$300M upfront in 2017, and the asset failed in both diseases it was tested in.

Strategic verdict
Failed to Achieve
Financial impact
Impaired/Written Down
Pipeline outcome
Assets Terminated

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
Biogen Inc. / Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (this deal)2017$710M15
Biogen Inc. / Reata Pharmaceuticals2023$7.3B73
Biogen Inc. / Human Immunology Biosciences2024$1.1B68
Biogen Inc. / RayThera Inc.2026$1.0B52
Biogen Inc. / Nightstar Therapeutics2019$800M
Biogen Inc. / TJ Biopharma Co., Ltd.2026$850M
Biogen Inc. / Vanqua Bio, Inc.2025$1.1B

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