Biogen Idec Stockholders Elect Company's Board Nominees

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) today announced that, based on a
preliminary count provided by its proxy solicitor, stockholders have
elected all four of the Company's nominees - Cecil B. Pickett, Ph.D.,
Lynn Schenk, J.D., Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D., and Stelios Papadopoulos,
Ph.D. - to the Biogen Idec Board of Directors at today's Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. In addition, based on that preliminary count,
the proposal to amend the Company's bylaws to set the size of the
Board at 12 has been defeated. The preliminary count is subject to the
official tabulation of vote results, which will be provided by Biogen
Idec's independent inspector of elections, IVS Associates, Inc., in
approximately 2-3 weeks.

Bruce R. Ross, Biogen Idec's Chairman, said, "We are gratified
that our nominees will serve on the Biogen Idec Board of Directors.
Our Board has a track record of delivering stockholder value and is
committed to pursuing all avenues to continue to do so in the future.
We look forward to turning our undivided attention to delivering
strong performance and growing our business for stockholders."

About Biogen Idec

Biogen Idec creates new standards of care in therapeutic areas
with high unmet medical needs. Founded in 1978, Biogen Idec is a
global leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and
commercialization of innovative therapies. Patients in more than 90
countries benefit from Biogen Idec's significant products that address
diseases such as lymphoma, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid
arthritis. For product labeling, press releases and additional
information about the company, please visit www.biogenidec.com.

Biogen Idec Media Contact:
Naomi Aoki, 617-914-6524
Director, Public Affairs
or
Biogen Idec Investor Relations Contact:
Elizabeth Woo, 617-679-2812
Vice President, Investor Relations

Copyright Business Wire 2008