A strong second quarter at Biogen Inc., buoyed by increasing demand for the spinal muscular atrophy drug Spinraza (nusinersen) and a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped the company beat consensus earnings estimates and raise its 2018 financial guidance. Appreciation for completed enrollment in the company's two phase III studies of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) candidate aducanumab and interest in a newly announced acquisition of a muscle enhancement program from Alivegen Inc. also helped.