CEO Michael Kauffman said the deal with Biogen helps to validate Karyopharm's discovery platform. The company is focused on developing its own internal candidates, including lead selinexor, in oncology, but sees opportunities to partner in other therapeutic areas. Early preclinical studies of compounds that inhibit XP01 in neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis and ALS, were "pretty outstanding," he said.

There could be other opportunities, particularly when it comes to antivirals. "One of the beauties of this mechanism is it just keeps popping up in biology," he said. In flu virus, for example XP01 is a mechanism used by the virus to spread. In animal models, Karyopharm has shown an effect in flu.

"It looks like a potentially interesting approach to the flu and several other viruses, including HIV and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)," Kauffman added. "We could have a similar type deal in the viral space as well."

A Deal For Biogen, But Not The One Investors Are Waiting For

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