Biogen Idec Names Michael Lytton Executive Vice President of Business Development

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) today announced the appointment of Michael E. Lytton as Executive Vice President, Business and Corporate Development. In this position, Mr. Lytton will be responsible for leading the Company's business development activities.

“Michael brings more than 25 years of business development, investment and legal experience in the biotechnology industry”

"Michael brings more than 25 years of business development, investment and legal experience in the biotechnology industry,” said Biogen Idec Chief Operating Officer Hans Peter Hasler. “His M&A background, as well as his experience in identifying and translating promising science into successful companies, makes him uniquely qualified to build on our track record of highly disciplined and productive business development.”

From 2001 to 2009, Mr. Lytton served as a General Partner at Oxford Bioscience Partners, a venture capital firm that provides equity financing and general management assistance to emerging life sciences companies. During his tenure, Mr. Lytton led or co-led a dozen investments in a range of therapeutic areas, including central nervous system disorders, inflammatory diseases and oncology. He worked successfully with management and boards of portfolio companies to drive growth through restructurings, M&A and exits through sales to larger companies. From 1993 to 2000, he was Partner, Chairman of the Technology Group, and a member of the Executive Committee of Palmer & Dodge LLP, a Boston-based law firm (now Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge). While there, he negotiated multiple M&A transactions, corporate partnerships and licensing deals.

Mr. Lytton is a graduate of Princeton University and recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship for study at the University of London. He received an M.Sc. in Epidemiology and Medical Statistics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

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.