Biogen Idec's George Scangos on a Failed ALS Drug Trial

We had a drug called dexpramipexole—dex, for short—that was in development for ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. It’s a devastating disease that often strikes young people. From diagnosis to death takes about three years. They stop being able to walk, then stop being able to move, and eventually they can’t breathe. All this time, their cognitive functions are completely unimpaired. There’s a person trapped inside this body that doesn’t work.

There’s only one drug on the market to treat ALS right now, and it provides only moderate benefits, so there’s a great need for something else. Biogen has great expertise in neurodegenerative diseases and has been interested in them for some time.