Severance Plan for U.S. Senior Vice Presidents

Exhibit 10.53

Severance Plan for U.S. Senior Vice Presidents

As a Senior Vice President, you are entitled to severance benefits in the event your employment is terminated by Biogen Idec other than For Cause or for reason of death or Disability (as these terms are defined in the Biogen Idec 2008 Omnibus Equity Plan).

Benefits

Your severance benefits are comprised of (i) a lump sum payment (as calculated below), (ii) upon completion of the appropriate forms, continuation of your participation in Biogen Idec’s group medical and dental insurance plans, to the same extent permitted by COBRA and to the same extent such insurance is then provided to regular employees of Biogen Idec, including payment by you of a portion of the insurance premiums (i.e., the “Insurance Benefit”) and (iii) the reasonable cost of up to nine months of executive-level outplacement services from a recognized provider of such services, at the expense of Biogen Idec (upon receipt of appropriate documentation).

The lump sum severance payment is calculated as follows:

[9 + (A x 2)] x B = lump sum payment

The following are examples of how the lump sum payment and Insurance Benefit Period are determined:

If your employment with Biogen Idec is terminated after 10 months of employment, you will receive a lump sum payment equal to nine months of your target annual cash compensation and continue to participate in Biogen Idec’s group medical and dental plans for nine months, unless you become eligible to participate in another employer’s medical and dental plans before that date. COBRA continuation of medical and dental benefits is available, at your own expense, for an additional nine months after this nine-month Insurance Benefit Period.

If your employment with Biogen Idec is terminated after five years, you will receive a lump sum payment equal to 18 months [9+9] of your target annual cash compensation and continue to participate in Biogen Idec’s group medical and dental plans for 18 months, unless you become eligible to participate in another employer’s medical and dental plans before that date.

If at any time within two years following a Corporate Transaction or Corporate Change in Control (as these terms are defined in Biogen Idec’s 2008 Omnibus Equity Plan) your employment is terminated by Biogen Idec or the succeeding corporate entity, other than For Cause or for reason of death or Disability (as these terms are defined in Biogen Idec’s 2008 Omnibus Equity Plan), or you experience an Involuntary Employment Action (defined below) and as a result you terminate your employment with Biogen Idec or the succeeding corporate entity, then, regardless of the length of your service with Biogen Idec and the succeeding corporate entity, and in lieu of the formula set forth above, you will receive a lump sum payment equivalent to 18 months of your target annual cash compensation at the time of your termination or at the time of a Corporate Transaction or Corporate Change in Control, whichever is higher. In addition, you will be entitled to continue participating in Biogen Idec’s group medical and dental plans for 18 months, unless you become eligible to participate in another employer’s medical and dental plans before that date. The term “Involuntary Employment Action” shall have the definition set forth in Biogen Idec’s 2008 Omnibus Equity Plan, provided, however, that the term “Corporate Transaction” used in that definition shall be deemed to mean either a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control, as the case may be, and provided also that prior to your termination of employment you have notified the Chief Legal Counsel or the Head of Human Resources of Biogen Idec in writing of the basis for your Involuntary Employment Action, you have given such notice within one year of the circumstances giving rise to your Involuntary Employment Action and Biogen Idec does not cure such circumstances within 30 days after the date of your notice.

Severance Plan for U.S. Senior Vice Presidents

Delivery of Benefits

Payment and provision of all the benefits provided under this arrangement are conditioned on your execution and delivery of all necessary forms and an irrevocable general release in favor of Biogen Idec, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Biogen Idec, with respect to any and all claims relating to your employment and the termination of your employment with Biogen Idec. If you retire or voluntarily terminate your employment with Biogen Idec, or Biogen Idec terminates your employment For Cause or for reason of death or Disability (as these terms are defined in Biogen Idec’s 2008 Omnibus Equity Plan), or you do not provide the requisite general release, you will not be eligible to receive the severance benefits described above.

If all other conditions of this arrangement are met, a lump sum payment (less applicable taxes and other mandatory deductions as required by law) will be paid to you following the termination of your employment, no later than the first to occur of: a) 90 days following your termination of your employment with Biogen Idec and b) March 15 of the year following the calendar year in which termination of employment occurs, unless you are a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (i.e., “Section 409A”). (If all preconditions to payment, including the delivery of an irrevocable general release, are not satisfied prior to the earlier of these two dates, payment to you may be delayed and you may incur additional tax liabilities under Section 409A.) If you are a “specified employee”, to the extent required by Section 409A, payment will not be made to you before the date which is six months after you “separate from service” (or, if earlier, your date of death or Disability) unless the payment qualifies as excepted welfare benefits under Section 409A, does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” under Section 409A or is otherwise not subject to the requirements of Section 409A.

The Insurance Benefit will continue until the earlier of (i) the date you become eligible to participate in the medical and dental insurance plan of another employer or (ii) the date that is [9 + (A x 2)] months, but not more than 18 months (or 18 months in the case of a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control), following the termination of your employment with Biogen Idec (the “Insurance Benefit Period”). You will have the right, at your own expense, to continue your participation in Biogen Idec’s group medical and dental insurance plans at the expiration of the Insurance Benefit Period, pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, but only for an 18-month period that will be deemed to have commenced at the start of your severance.

General

Biogen Idec shall administer and shall have the discretionary authority to adopt rules for the management and operation of this arrangement, to interpret the provisions of the arrangement and to con