This website may contain information which is forward-looking and involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the inherent uncertainty of pharmaceutical research, product development, clinical research, seeking regulatory approval and product commercialization, as well as the impact of competitive products, patents, product liability and third-party reimbursement risks associated with the pharmaceutical industry, and the other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Biogen Idec’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recently filed quarterly report on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K, which are available by clicking here , and Biogen, Inc.’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 and its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, which are available by clicking here .
Product development involves a high degree of risk. Only a small number of research and development programs result in the commercialization of a product. Success in preclinical and early clinical trials does not ensure that later stage or large scale clinical trials will be successful. Many important factors affect Biogen Idec’s ability to successfully develop and commercialize drugs, including the ability to obtain and maintain necessary patents and licenses, to demonstrate safety and/or efficacy of drug candidates at each stage of the clinical trial process, to overcome technical hurdles that may arise, to meet applicable regulatory standards, to receive required regulatory approvals, to be capable of producing drug candidates in commercial quantities at reasonable costs, to compete successfully against other products and to market products successfully. There can be no assurance Biogen Idec will be successful in its efforts to develop and commercialize new products.