Biogen Idec and Isis Pharmaceuticals are joining forces for a third time with a global collaboration to discover and develop antisense drug candidates against three undisclosed targets to treat neurological or neuromuscular disorders. Isis will be responsible for the discovery and development of a lead antisense drug for each of the three targets and Biogen Idec has the option to license a drug from each programme through the completion of Phase II trials. The two companies have previously signed similar deals focused on spinal muscular atrophy and myotonic dystrophy type 1.