CORPORATE VECTOR
How biotech giant Biogen spread COVID-19 in Boston
The coronavirus toll linked to a Biogen management meeting in Boston has now jumped to 32 people infected in Massachusetts — with an investment bank in New York City alerting hundreds more about the viral risk.
Cambridge-based Biogen confirmed Monday they have warned both Manhattan investment bank Cowen & Co. and Boston’s State Room venue about company managers who have COVID19 who may have come in contact with others.
About 175 Biogen managers coming from all over the world — “Yes, from Italy,” a company spokesman confirmed — gathered for a major meeting of the biotech giant held at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf hotel Feb. 26-27. Italy, at that time, was beginning to see the virus spread.
A Biogen “group dinner” was also held the night of Feb. 26 at the State Room on the 33rd floor of 60 State St. overlooking Faneuil Hall. “The restaurant has been notified,” Biogen said. A venue spokeswoman confirmed it catered the event, but declined further comment.
A manager from Tennessee and two from Indiana who attended the Biogen meeting have since tested positive for the coronavirus, according to health officials. And another, who went to a Florida conference afterwards, is also reportedly infected.
On March 2, a top Biogen manager and assistants then went to the 40th Annual Health Care Conference sponsored by Cowen & Co. held at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. One of those in attendance from Biogen has since “tested positive” for COVID-19, a
Cowen spokesman said.
The COVID-19 worldwide spread, ironically, was one of the hot topics at the conference.
A Cowen & Co. human resources director told the Herald Monday she was aware of the coronavirus risk and a spokesman later said all 300-plus people who attended what was billed as the “event of the year when it comes to healthcare conferences” were notified after the fact about the Biogen link.
“We have notified all conference attendees and as of now, there are no cases among Cowen employees nor any other reports from other attendees. We are following CDC guidelines regarding those that may have been in close contact with this individual,” said Dan Gagnier, a Cowen spokesperson.
Biogen is one of the world’s largest biotech firms known for its work in Alzheimer’s.
Biogen has instructed employees and contractors in Massachusetts, North Carolina and Switzerland to work from home “until further notice.”
A Biogen spokeswoman said the company recognizes “that this is a difficult situation for our colleagues and their loved ones.”
The management confab, a spokeswoman said, was to discuss “a variety of presentations on our current therapies in multiple sclerosis, rare disease as well as our research and development pipeline.”
She added: “At the time of the meeting, we were absolutely following national guidance on travel and in-person meetings.”
The Biogen mangers came down with flu-like symptoms well after the session was over, the company added.
But that meeting is now linked to a vast majority of the state’s 41 COVID19 cases, state health officials said. And, it also prompted a rush to the hospital Friday by 60 employees for testing.