Biogen Idec Celebrates 30 Years of Transforming Discovery into Care

Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB), a global biotechnology leader in the

discovery, development, manufacturing and commercialization of

innovative therapies, this week is celebrating its 30-year anniversary

of creating new standards of care in therapeutic areas with high unmet

medical needs.
"For 30 years, Biogen Idec has been

transforming discoveries into breakthrough therapies that improve the

lives of patients around the world," said

James Mullen, Biogen Idec´s Chief Executive

Officer. "With leading biotechnology products

a robust pipeline and talented people, we are delivering significant

value for our patients and shareholders. Our prospects for future growth

and success have never been better."
Currently, Biogen Idec markets three major therapies. It has an

industry-leading multiple sclerosis (MS) franchise with AVONEX® (Interferon beta-1a), the world´s most

prescribed therapy for relapsing forms of MS; and TYSABRI® (natalizumab), co-marketed with Elan Pharmaceuticals, which reached

approximately 26,000 patients on commercial and clinical therapy

worldwide as of the end of March 2008. The company also co-markets with

Genentech, Inc. RITUXAN® (rituximab), the world´s leading cancer

therapy and a treatment for non-Hodgkin´s

lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis.
The company´s product pipeline includes 15

products in Phase 2 and beyond, and its research and development is

focused primarily on neurology, oncology and rheumatology, with emerging

efforts in cardiopulmonary diseases and hemophilia. Patients in more

than 90 countries benefit from Biogen Idec´s

significant products. The company has more than 4,200 employees

worldwide and generated revenues of nearly $3.2 billion in 2007.
Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D., co-founder and a Director of the

company, said, "Thirty years ago, we could

only have dreamed that the company we started would have the profound

impact on patients that it has today. It is gratifying to see Biogen Idec´s

spirit of innovation and perseverance continuing to drive excellence in

research and development. The company has also outlined a comprehensive

strategic growth plan that we believe will build on the exciting

momentum underway."
A Plan for Continued Growth
Biogen Idec has presented detailed product and financial goals for the

year 2010. Specifically, the company aims to generate revenue growth at

a 15 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and non-GAAP EPS at a 20

percent CAGR from 2007 through 2010. This strong growth is expected to

be driven by:

Continued solid performance of AVONEX, the world´s

most prescribed therapy for MS;

Expansion of RITUXAN into autoimmune diseases;

Achievement of the milestone of 100,000 patients on TYSABRI by

year-end 2010;

Continued geographic diversification of the company´s

revenue base, with more than 40 percent of revenue coming from its

International business by 2010; and

By year-end 2010, the launch of four new products from the pipeline or

existing products in major new indications, and the advancement of

another six programs into late-stage development.

Company History Highlights

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1978:

Biogen NV is incorporated
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1979:

Biogen scientists are the first to announce synthesis in bacteria

(expression) of hepatitis B virus protein antigens
Biogen grants exclusive worldwide license to Schering-Plough for

its alpha interferon patents. Today, INTRON(R) A (Interferon

alfa-2b) is marketed in several indications including chronic

hepatitis B and C, and malignant melanoma

- - - - - -

1980:

Walter Gilbert, Ph.D., of Harvard University and one of Biogen´s

founders, receives the Nobel Prize for sequencing nucleotides
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1985:

IDEC Pharmaceuticals is founded
- - - - - -

1988:

Biogen licenses its hepatitis B technology to SmithKlineBeecham.

Today ENGERIX(R)-B (hepatitis B vaccine) and RECOMBIVAX(R) are sold

by GlaxoSmithKline and Merck, respectively
- - - - - -

1993:

Phillip Sharp, Ph.D., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

and a founder of Biogen, receives the Nobel Prize for his discovery

of split genes and RNA splicing
- - - - - -

1996:

FDA approves Biogen´s AVONEX for treatment of relapsing forms of MS
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1997:

FDA approves IDEC´s RITUXAN for the treatment of certain types of

B-cell non-Hodgkin´s lymphoma - the first monoclonal antibody to

be approved as a cancer therapeutic
Biogen licenses exclusive rights to bivalirudin to The Medicines

Company, which today markets ANGIOMAX(R) as an anticoagulant

- - - - - -

2003:

Biogen and IDEC Pharmaceuticals merge to create Biogen Idec
- - - - - -

2006:

FDA approves RITUXAN for the treatment of moderate-to-severe

rheumatoid arthritis
- - - - - -

2006:

TYSABRI is reintroduced in the U.S. and launched in the European

Union as a treatment for relapsing forms of MS
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2007:

Biogen Idec continues to expand its global footprint, opening

offices in Brazil, China and India
- - - - - -

2008:

FDA approves TYSABRI for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Crohn´s

disease in patients who have failed or cannot tolerate available

therapies
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About Biogen Idec
Biogen Idec creates new standards of care in therapeutic areas with high

unmet medical needs. Founded in 1978, Biogen Idec is a global leader in

the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of

innovative therapies. Patients in more than 90 countries benefit from

Biogen Idec´s significant products that

address diseases such as lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid

arthritis. For product labeling, press releases and additional

information about the company, please visit www.biogenidec.com.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which appear

under the heading "A Plan for Continued Growth" and in the comments from James Mullen, our CEO and Phil Sharp, a

co-founder and Director of the company. Forward-looking statements are

subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to

differ materially from that which we expect. Important factors that

could cause our actual results to differ include our continued

dependence on our two principal products, AVONEX and RITUXAN, the

uncertainty of success in commercializing other products including

TYSABRI, the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products, the

consequences of the nomination of directors for election to our Board by

an activist shareholder, the failure to execute our growth strategy

successfully or to compete effectively in our markets, our dependence on

collaborations over which we may not always have full control, possible

adverse impact of government regulation and changes in the availability

of reimbursement for our products, problems with our manufacturing

processes and our reliance on third parties, fluctuations in our

operating results, our ability to protect our intellectual property

rights and the cost of doing so, the risks of doing business

internationally and the other risks and uncertainties that are described

in Item 1.A. Risk Factors in our reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and

in other periodic and current reports we file with the SEC. These

forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press

release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any

forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information

future events, or otherwise.
Important Information
On May 8, 2008, Biogen Idec filed a definitive proxy statement with the

Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")

in connection with the Company´s 2008 Annual

Meeting. Biogen Idec´s stockholders are

strongly advised to read the definitive proxy statement carefully before

making any voting or investment decision because the definitive proxy

statement contains important information. The Company´s

proxy statement and any other materials filed by the Company with the

SEC can be obtained free of charge at the SEC´s

web site at www.sec.gov or from Biogen Idec at http://investor.biogenidec.com.

The Company´s definitive proxy statement and

other materials will also be available for free by writing to Biogen

Idec Inc., 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142 or by contacting our

proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, by toll-free telephone at

(877) 750-5836.
GAAP EPS Reconciliation for 2010 Goals
On a reported basis, calculated in accordance with accounting principles

generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP), the company aims to grow GAAP EPS

from 2007 through 2010 at a 25% CAGR. The long-term non-GAAP EPS goal

excludes the impact of purchase accounting, merger-related adjustments

stock option expense, and their related tax effects. In order to

reconcile long-term GAAP and non-GAAP EPS figures, the company has

excluded the following items for 2008 through 2010 from our non-GAAP EPS

goal provided above:

Purchase accounting charges, including amortization of acquired

intangible assets and IPR&D, is estimated to be $760-$800 million for

already completed transactions;

Stock option expense due to FAS 123R is estimated to be in the range

of $80-$90 million;

Tax benefit of $220-$240 million related to the pre-tax reconciling

items.

Because the company cannot predict with certainty the nature or the

amount of non-operating or unusual charges through 2010, it has made no

assumption regarding new purchase accounting charges in this GAAP EPS

goal. The company may incur charges or realize income through 2010 which

could cause actual results to vary from the goal.