Biogen Idec Inc., one of the oldest biotechnology companies and leading maker of biologics for treating multiple sclerosis, said Oct. 12th it plans explore the possibility of a sale, perhaps to a large pharmaceutical company.

The company said its financial standing is now healthy and its prospects are good, but that it wanted to explore whether "major pharmaceutical companies" might make an offer that is more attractive than remaining independent.

Biogen Idec is best known known for its multiple sclerosis biologics Avonex and Tysabri and the biologic Rituxan, which is used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis.

While the company had a difficult time two years ago when it was forced to pull Tysabri off the market after some patients using it in trials contracted a rare brain disease, the FDA allowed sales of Tysabri to resume last year and its use has been growing.

Biogen Idec's announcement that it would consider offers was seen prompted by billionaire corporate raider Carl Icahn, who recently disclosed he owned one percent of the company and won antitrust approval in August to take an even larger stake.

In April, biotechnology company MedImmune agreed to sell itself to pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca just three months after Icahn first revealed he had taken a one percent stake in that company.