Biogen Idec appoints permanent chief scientific officer

Biogen Idec has announced that its interim chief scientific officer (CSO) Dr Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas is to continue in the role on a permanent basis.

Dr Artavanis-Tsakonas has been a professor of cell biology at the Harvard Medical School since 1999 and originally took up the CSO position while on sabbatical.

He will now lead Biogen Idec's research strategy, capabilities and discovery platforms, reporting to executive vice-president of research and development Doug Williams, while also maintaining his position at Harvard Medical School.

In addition to his academic credentials, Dr. Artavanis-Tsakonas is the scientific co-founder of Exelixis Pharmaceuticals, Cellzome and Anadys Pharmaceuticals.

Mr Williams said the new CSO will be be instrumental in "attracting and encouraging exceptional scientific talent, enhancing our existing early discovery programs, establishing extensive academic collaborations and leading our drug discovery strategy".

During the first quarter of 2013, the company was able to increase its revenue performance by ten percent year over year, thanks to strong sales of drugs such as Avonex and Tysabri.