Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers On March 12, 2009, Biogen Idec Inc. (the "Company") announced that Cecil B. Pickett, Ph.D., President, Research and Development, will retire from this position. The Company has initiated a search for a successor that will consider internal and external candidates. Dr. Pickett will continue to head Research and Development until his successor is appointed. He will remain on the Company's Board of Directors after he steps down from his executive position.

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