Biogen Announces Acquisition Of Alcyone Therapeutics To Strengthen Drug Delivery Technologies Supporting Current Products And Future Pipeline

Biogen Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Alcyone Therapeutics, a Massachusetts-based company specializing in precision delivery solutions for central nervous system therapies. The two companies have been working together under an existing partnership to advance ThecaFlex DRx™, an implantable subcutaneous port and catheter device designed for the intrathecal delivery of antisense oligonucleotides. ThecaFlex DRx™ offers an alternative to repeated lumbar punctures for chronic intrathecal administration of medicines, aiming to improve patient comfort and broaden access for people living with neurological disorders.

Under the terms of the acquisition, Biogen will take over end-to-end development, manufacturing, and commercialization of ThecaFlex DRx™. Following the closing of the transaction, Alcyone employees joining Biogen will become part of its product delivery solutions team, strengthening Biogen’s expertise in drug-device combination products. The device is initially being evaluated with SPINRAZA® (nusinersen) in patients with spinal muscular atrophy, and these studies will help guide Biogen’s broader plans for its pipeline of investigational therapies.

Nicole Murphy, head of pharmaceutical operations and technology at Biogen, said that for nearly three decades the company has been a pioneer in antisense oligonucleotide development and remains dedicated to improving patient experience and administration methods. She described the acquisition as a strategic opportunity to expand Biogen’s capabilities and enhance the value of its medicines through patient-focused solutions. 

PJ Anand, founder, president, and chief executive officer of Alcyone Therapeutics, noted that Alcyone has been a leader in precision CNS delivery and that this agreement builds on a productive partnership with Biogen. He expressed confidence that Biogen’s expertise in antisense oligonucleotides and its track record in advancing drug delivery technologies make it the ideal partner to bring ThecaFlex DRx™ to market.

Biogen and Alcyone have been collaborating since 2023 on the development of ThecaFlex DRx™, with the PIERRE and PIERRE-PK clinical studies of nusinersen currently in progress. Nusinersen, marketed under the brand name SPINRAZA®, is approved for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy in both pediatric and adult patients. Biogen plans to introduce the new delivery system for SPINRAZA in early 2028, pending successful clinical trials and regulatory approval. Alcyone Therapeutics, based in Lowell, Massachusetts, has been developing ThecaFlex DRx™ since 2019, and the device is manufactured locally.