COVID-19 Update

June 15, 2021

TO PATIENTS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PARTNERS, AND OUR COMMUNITY

Since the early days of the pandemic, employee safety and well-being have been a top priority for Biogen. We have put in place very clear measures aimed at maintaining critical work so that we can continue delivering lifesaving medicines to people around the world.

We are deeply concerned for our employees, our communities and everyone around the world who has been affected in some way by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). It hurts us to know that some of our colleagues, loved ones, and business partners may be living in isolation from their families, and that others are wondering what this may mean for them. These are people we collaborate with every day. Most importantly, they are friends we care deeply about.

We are grateful to the public health authorities who have been working tirelessly since the very beginning to tackle the unprecedented challenge posed by this outbreak and thankful for the courage and compassion of the healthcare workers who are helping everyone.

We acknowledge the efforts of the industry in moving swiftly and efficiently to deliver vaccine solutions that we hope will bring about positive outcomes for our communities in coming months. To help ensure the health and safety of our employees, customers, patients, and partners, we are taking the advice of the New Zealand health authorities and implementing the following:

  • Quarantine of anyone who comes into contact with an individual testing positive for COVID-19.
  • Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and symptomatic individuals who are awaiting test results will be isolated and quarantined with their families.
  • Monitoring of our supply chain and operations continues to assure we can continue to produce important medicines for our patient communities around the world.
  • All New Zealand employees are required to stay home if they are not feeling well and to consult with their healthcare provider as appropriate.
  • The New Zealand office utilises official NZ COVID Tracer QR codes. We are committed to keeping employees and visitors safe through accurate electronic record keeping and appropriate posters and signage. Employees and visitors to the office must observe social distancing.
  • We have been flexible in the ways that we are working with our customers to meet their preferences with regards to face-to-face and virtual meetings.

We are closely following the developments in this space and will continue to adjust our protocols as necessary based on local health authority guidelines.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to operate our manufacturing facilities and supplying our therapies for people living with serious diseases around the world. We continue to be focused on delivering vital medicine to patients. We have adopted new models and digital technologies to engage with each other, our external stakeholders and to support the needs of patients and the medical community. We have implemented several initiatives to advance this effort, including adapting the way we conduct clinical trials, virtualising customer engagement practices and applying digital technologies to collaborate with patient groups and the medical community. We believe that, in some instances, this crisis can be a catalyst for change and for re-inventing the way we conduct business in service of patients and the medical community everywhere.

In March, the Biogen Foundation committed $10 million to support global response efforts and communities around the world impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds supported global organisations providing food and other immediate humanitarian relief services, easing the burden of healthcare systems around the world and expanding testing capacity. Through additional commitments, the Biogen Foundation has donated more than $11.7 million in grants to COVID-19 relief efforts, assisting more than 83 NGOs across 35 countries.

We are proud of the generosity of Biogen employees who have contributed more than $4.4 million to global non-profits, including the Biogen Foundation’s match. Much of their contributions also went to organisations supporting various COVID-19 relief efforts, including those delivering food and hygiene products, increasing testing and physician training, establishing telehealth services and e-learning programs, and procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies for front line workers.

This is a dynamic situation and we are focused on helping our communities and our employees through this difficult time. In our Head Office in the US, we have established and are consulting regularly with a panel of infectious disease experts to help us better understand COVID-19. We will continue to be vigilant and help wherever we can.

In the meantime, we continue to operate our business to serve the needs of our patients and advance our mission of being pioneers in neuroscience.