Following a meeting with Biogen's (BIIB.US) management, Goldman Sachs has initiated coverage with a "Buy" rating and a $225 price target. The firm noted that Biogen's management emphasized a cultural shift towards a greater focus on research and development and expense control, which is a core part of its strategy to counter declines in its multiple sclerosis business and drive future growth. Key growth levers highlighted include: (1) Leqembi, for which a subcutaneous induction therapy is expected to gain approval in the first half of 2028; this could potentially undermine the competitive advantage of Eli Lilly's (LLY.US) Kisunla regarding dosing frequency, especially as the market shifts towards earlier treatment intervention (with a Phase III pre-clinical study in Alzheimer's disease planned for 2028) and the adoption of blood-based diagnostics for triage and eventual diagnosis; (2) The R&D pipeline, particularly the tau-targeting drug BIIB080 (set to report Phase II data around mid-2026 to demonstrate its impact on cognitive function), Biogen's favorable positioning in lupus treatment across multiple mechanisms (the company will next focus on Phase III data for litifilimab in systemic lupus erythematosus, due in the second half of this year), and the CD38 monoclonal antibody felzartamab, which management views as an underestimated opportunity with Phase III data readouts beginning in 2027. Management also mentioned the Phase III drug salanersen for spinal muscular atrophy, a next-generation Spinraza effective for patients post-gene therapy and administered annually. In summary, Goldman Sachs believes Biogen is positioned for a potential inflection point this year, driven by catalysts from its R&D pipeline and Leqembi, coupled with stringent cost control and a disciplined business development strategy prioritizing early-stage rare disease and/or immunology assets.
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