CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Biotechnology company Biogen Idec Inc. said Monday Chief Operating Officer Peter Hasler is leaving the company and will be replaced by Robert Hamm. Hamm, 57, has been executive vice president of pharmaceutical operations and technology at Biogen since 2007. The company did not give a reason for Hasler’s departure. The announcement comes less than a week after the company held a research and development meeting with investors to feature its product pipeline and progress in ongoing programs. Meanwhile, activist investor Carl Icahn is in the midst of his second board takeover attempt in as many years. Icahn has been a proponent of selling the company and previously accused executives of rigging a prior sale attempt so it would fail. Biogen has denied the allegation.
