Investments in Variable Interest Entities

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Investments in Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Investments in Variable Interest Entities

18.   Investments in Variable Interest Entities

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities

Our condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial results of variable interest entities in which we are the primary beneficiary.

Investments in Joint Ventures

We consolidate 100% of the operations of Biogen Dompé SRL and Biogen Dompé Switzerland GmbH, our respective sales affiliates in Italy and Switzerland, as we retain the contractual power to direct the activities of these entities which most significantly and directly impact their economic performance. The activity of each of these joint ventures is significant to our overall operations. The assets of these joint ventures were restricted, from the standpoint of Biogen Idec, in that they are not available for our general business use outside the context of each joint venture. The holders of the liabilities of each joint venture, including the credit line from Dompé described in our 2010 Form 10-K, had no recourse to Biogen Idec. Other than the line of credit from us and Dompé Farmaceutici SpA to Biogen-Dompé SRL, we have provided no financing to these joint ventures. In addition, Biogen-Dompé SRL has an operating lease for office space as well as a contract for the provision of administrative services with Dompé Farmaceutici SpA.

The following table summarizes total joint venture assets and liabilities:

	As of		As of
	June 30,		December 31,
(In millions)	2011		2010
Assets	$	193.6	$	159.2
Liabilities	$	74.6	$	63.3

The joint ventures’ most significant assets were accounts receivable from the ordinary course of business. As of June 30, 2011, accounts receivable held by our joint ventures totaled $134.2 million, of which $127.8 million were related to Biogen Dompé SRL, compared to $124.2 million as of December 31, 2010, of which $118.0 million were related to Biogen Dompé SRL. For additional information related to our accounts receivable balances in Italy, please read Note 5, Accounts Receivable to these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Knopp

In August 2010, we entered into a license agreement with Knopp Neurosciences, Inc. (Knopp), a subsidiary of Knopp Holdings, LLC, for the development, manufacture and commercialization of dexpramipexole, an orally administered small molecule in clinical development for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We are responsible for all development activities and, if successful, we will also be responsible for the manufacture and global commercialization of dexpramipexole. Under the terms of the license agreement we made a $26.4 million upfront payment and agreed to pay Knopp up to an additional $265.0 million in development and sales-based milestone payments, as well as royalties on future commercial sales. In addition, we also purchased 30.0% of the Class B common shares of Knopp for $60.0 million.

Due to the terms of the license agreement and our investment in Knopp, we determined that we are the primary beneficiary of Knopp as we have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Knopp’s economic performance. As such, we consolidate the results of Knopp. Although we have assumed responsibility for the development of dexpramipexole, we may also be required to reimburse certain Knopp expenses directly attributable to the license agreement. Any additional amounts incurred by Knopp that we reimburse will be reflected within total costs and expenses in our consolidated statement of income. Future development and sales-based milestone payments will be reflected within our consolidated statement of income as charges to noncontrolling interests when such milestones are achieved.

In March 2011, we dosed the first patient in a registrational study for dexpramipexole. The achievement of this milestone resulted in a $10.0 million payment due to Knopp. As we consolidate Knopp, we recognized this payment as a charge to noncontrolling interests in the first quarter of 2011.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the collaboration incurred $9.0 million and $14.7 million, respectively, of expense related to the development of dexpramipexole, which is reflected as research and development expense within our condensed consolidated statements of income. The assets and liabilities of Knopp are not significant to our financial position or results of operations. We have provided no financing to Knopp other than previously contractually required amounts disclosed above.

Neurimmune SubOne AG

In 2007, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Neurimmune SubOne AG (Neurimmune), a subsidiary of Neurimmune AG, for the development and commercialization of antibodies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Neurimmune conducts research to identify potential therapeutic antibodies and we are responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of all products. Based upon our current development plans, we may pay Neurimmune up to $345.0 million in remaining milestone payments, as well as royalties on sales of any resulting commercial products.

We determined that we are the primary beneficiary of Neurimmune because we have the power through the collaboration to direct the activities that most significantly impact SubOne’s economic performance and are required to fund 100% of the research and development costs incurred in support of the collaboration agreement. Amounts that are incurred by Neurimmune for research and development expenses in support of the collaboration that we reimburse are reflected in research and development expense in our consolidated statements of income. Future milestone payments will be reflected within our consolidated statements of income as a charge to the noncontrolling interest when such milestones are achieved.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the collaboration incurred development expense totaling $3.0 million and $4.8 million, respectively, which is reflected as research and development expense within our condensed consolidated statements of income, compared to $5.3 million and $10.4 million, respectively, in the prior year comparative periods.

In April 2011, we submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for BIIB037 (human anti-Amyloid β mAb), a beta-amyloid removal therapy. BIIB037 is being developed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The achievement of this milestone resulted in a $15.0 milestone payment made to Neurimmune. As we consolidate Neurimmune, we have recognized this payment as a charge to noncontrolling interests in the second quarter of 2011.

The assets and liabilities of Neurimmune are not significant as it is a research and development organization. We have provided no financing to Neurimmune other than previously contractually required amounts disclosed above.

Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities

We have relationships with other variable interest entities which we do not consolidate as we lack the power to direct the activities that significantly impact the economic success of these entities. These relationships include investments in certain biotechnology companies and research collaboration agreements. For additional information related to our significant collaboration arrangements, please read Note 19, Collaborations to our consolidated financial statements included within our 2010 Form 10-K.

As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the total carrying value of our investments in biotechnology companies that we determined to be variable interest entities and which are not consolidated were $17.7 million and $22.9 million, respectively. Our maximum exposure to loss related to these variable interest entities is limited to the carrying value of our investments.

We have entered into research collaborations with certain variable interest entities where we are required to fund certain development activities. These development activities are included in research and development expense within our consolidated statements of income as they are incurred. Depending on the collaborative arrangement, we may record funding receivables or payable balances with our partners, based on the nature of the cost-sharing mechanism and activity within the collaboration. As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had no significant receivables or payables related to cost sharing arrangements with unconsolidated variable interest entities.

We have provided no financing to these variable interest entities other than previously contractually required amounts.