KI and Biogen collaborate to facilitate studies on neurological diseases

A new umbrella agreement between KI and Biogen will facilitate future collaborative projects and studies on neurological diseases. The agreement, which is the result of a long process, also aims to establish a governance structure to enable effective future collaboration.

KI has been working with Biogen in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS) for many years. With the new umbrella agreement, it becomes possible to more easily identify and launch new collaborative projects of interest to both parties. Other areas for potential collaboration will include Alzheimer's disease and spinal muscle atrophy.

"KI has previously collaborated in developing risk reduction methodologies for Biogen’s marketed MS drug. Collaborations of this kind between pharmaceutical companies and academia are crucial for achieving success in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as MS," says Tomas Olsson, professor at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet.

"Our continued collaboration with Biogen is of great importance not only for assessing drug effects but also for our ability to collect data from patients with MS from across the country, thus allowing for the development of biomarkers and the determination of disease-related variations," he continues.

The contract also provides for the establishment of a joint governance body to oversee the joint projects.