Biogen and Denali's $1 billion Parkinson's deal

Biogen will pay more than $1 billion for rights to a Parkinson’s drug from Denali Therapeutics, as well as the technology to deliver it to the brain. The drug, which targets the LRRK2 gene — which is linked to Parkinson’s disease in some patients — was nearly abandoned by several drug makers. New research has underscored its potential in treating a broad swath of patients with the disease.

Denali is planning two sets of clinical trials on the drug, STAT’s Matthew Herper writes: One with patients with the LRRK2 mutation that triggers Parkinson’s, and one in patients without. It’s also developing a mechanism to ferry the drug past the blood-brain barrier.