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Biogen Idec and Sobi to donate 1 billion international units of clotting factor to support treatment of haemophilia in developing world

- World Federation of Hemophilia Humanitarian Aid Program to Receive 500 Million
International Units Over 5 Years -
Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi) (STO:
SOBI) today announced their intent to produce one billion international units
(IUs) of clotting factor therapy for humanitarian aid programs in the developing
world at the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) 2014 World Congress.
Initially, the companies have committed to donating up to 500 million IUs to the
World Federation of Hemophilia over five years to support its efforts to raise
the standard of care for people with haemophilia in the developing world. The
remaining 500 million IUs of clotting factor will be made available for future
distribution.

This donation is expected to enable a predictable, sustained humanitarian supply
of factor therapy and improve the quality of patient care and outcomes in the
developing world. Haemophilia is a rare, chronic, inherited disorder in which
the ability of a person's blood to clot is impaired. This can lead to recurrent
and extended bleeding episodes. According to the WFH, an estimated 400,000
people worldwide are living with haemophilia and of these, more than 300,000
individuals live in areas where there is limited access to diagnosis and
treatment. The commitment of one billion IUs of factor is intended to enable
physicians to treat more than 75,000 joint bleeding episodes, more than 2,000
life threatening bleeding episodes as well as conduct thousands of elective
surgical procedures that would not be possible without access to clotting
factor.

"All of us at Biogen Idec are dedicated to making life better for people living
with haemophilia," said George A. Scangos, Ph.D., chief executive officer of
Biogen Idec. "Haemophilia occurs all over the world, and this donation will
provide some level of care to thousands of people who otherwise would not have
access to treatment."

"Our dialogue with the haemophilia community consistently highlights sustainable
global equity as a major unmet need in the field," said Geoffrey McDonough,
M.D., president and chief executive officer of Sobi. "This donation is
consistent with our patient-centered approach, and has the potential to
transform the treatment model for people with haemophilia in developing
countries. We are proud to partner with the WFH in their work."

"The WFH humanitarian aid program would exist in name only if not for the
generous donations we receive from companies such as Biogen Idec and Sobi," said
WFH President Alain Weill. "Their generosity today brings us 500 million steps
closer to making the WFH vision of treatment for all a reality."

Biogen Idec and Sobi are partners in the development and commercialisation of
treatments for haemophilia. Biogen Idec, which is responsible for product supply
under the collaboration, will designate one billion IUs of clotting factor
therapy for use in humanitarian programs over the next decade.

Under the terms of the agreement with WFH, at least 85 percent of donated factor
will be Antihemophilic Factor VIII (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein for the
treatment of haemophilia A, with the remainder comprised of Coagulation Factor
IX (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein for the treatment of haemophilia B. The
donation of Antihemophilic Factor VIII (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein is
contingent upon approval of a Biologics License Application currently under
review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Shipments for
humanitarian programs are expected to begin in the second half of 2015.

Countries eligible for the WFH program use less than 1 IU of FVIII per capita.
Due to the lack of treatment, people with severe haemophilia in these countries
often do not survive to adulthood.

- - -

About the World Federation of Hemophilia
For 50 years, the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), an international not-for
profit organisation, has worked to improve the lives of people with haemophilia
and other inherited bleeding disorders. Established in 1963, it is a global
network of patient organisations in 122 countries and has official recognition
from the World Health Organization. Visit WFH online at www.wfh.org.



About the Biogen Idec and Sobi Collaboration
Biogen Idec and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) are partners in the development
and commercialisation of treatments for haemophilia. Biogen Idec leads
development, has manufacturing rights, and has commercialisation rights in North
America and all other regions in the world excluding the Sobi territory. Sobi
has the right to opt in to assume final development and commercialisation in
Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Northern Africa.



About Biogen Idec
Through cutting-edge science and medicine, Biogen Idec discovers, develops and
delivers to patients worldwide innovative therapies for the treatment of
neurodegenerative diseases, haemophilia and autoimmune disorders. Founded in
1978, Biogen Idec is the world's oldest independent biotechnology company.
Patients worldwide benefit from its leading multiple sclerosis therapies. For
product labeling, press releases and additional information about the company,
please visit www.biogenidec.com.



About Sobi
Sobi is an international specialty healthcare company dedicated to rare
diseases. Our mission is to develop and deliver innovative therapies and
services to improve the lives of patients. The product portfolio is primarily
focused on inflammation and genetic diseases, with two late stage biological
development projects within haemophilia. We also market a portfolio of specialty
and rare disease products for partner companies. Sobi is a pioneer in
biotechnology with world-class capabilities in protein biochemistry and
biologics manufacturing. In 2013, Sobi had total revenues of SEK 2.2 billion ($
334 M) and about 550 employees. The share (STO: SOBI) is listed on NASDAQ OMX
Stockholm. More information is available at www.sobi.com.



Sobi

 Media Contact:         Investor Relations contact:

 Oskar Bosson            Jörgen Winroth

 T: +46 70 410 71 80    T: +1 347-224-0819, +1 212-579-0506, +46 8 697 2135

 [email protected]  [email protected]

Biogen Idec

 Media Contact:

 Todd Cooper

 +1-781-464-3260

 [email protected]



Biogen Idec Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements
about the amount of clotting factors to be supplied and the timing thereof.
These statements may be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "may,"
"plan," "potential," "will" and similar expressions, and are based on current
beliefs and expectations. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such
statements, including the risk that regulatory authorities fail to approve or
delay approval of the Antihemophilic Factor VIII (Recombinant), Fc Fusion
Protein drug candidate, the risk of manufacturing problems and the other risks
and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of Biogen
Idec's most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of
this press release and Biogen Idec assumes no obligation to update any forward-
looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. For more information please contact




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