09:17 AM EDT, 03/11/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Biogen (BIIB) said Wednesday new data from an early-stage study showed its experimental spinal muscular atrophy drug salanersen slowed neurodegeneration and improved motor function in children.

The company said the results were presented at the 2026 Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical & Scientific Conference.

The phase 1b study tested the once-yearly therapy in 24 children who had previously received the gene therapy onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi but still had suboptimal clinical status, Biogen said.

The company added that the levels of neurofilament light chain, a marker of neurodegeneration, fell about 75% within six months. All participants improved on at least one clinical measure, it said. 12 achieved a new motor milestone defined by the World Health Organization, Biogen said.