Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB), the world’s largest maker of multiple sclerosis medicines, is on the hunt for new compounds to treat MS and other neurodegenerative diseases, and may purchase companies outright or partner with them, the company’s research chief said. Biogen is “very actively” reviewing licensing and acquisition possibilities with companies that have drugs in the first two stages of testing needed for regulatory approval, Doug Williams, executive vice president of the Weston, Massachusetts- based biotechnology company, said today in an interview. Treatments for immunology and hematology are areas of interest, he said.
