Biogen bets more on Isis technology for neurological drugs

By Deena Beasley (Reuters) – Biogen Idec has agreed to pay another $100 million upfront to Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc as part of a broad collaboration to develop new medicines for neurological disorders, the companies said on Monday. The news sent Isis's shares up 9 percent in premarket trade. The deal is the fourth between the companies in the last two years, and aims to use the "antisense" technology invented by Isis to accelerate discovery of drug targets for neurodegenerative diseases. …