Business Headlines: Empty Offices In Boston; Buffett's Challenge

BOSTON (CBS) - Two Massachusetts drug companies are offering new hope to multiple sclerosis patients, with new treatment drugs awaiting approval by the FDA.

Biogen and Genzyme have three MS drugs in the pipeline between them.

Biogen has developed an oral medication.

The company hopes the FDA will agree to give the drug an accelerated six-month approval process, rather than the standard ten months.

Genzyme is developing an oral drug, as well as another medication.

If approved, these drugs would give doctors more options to help MS patients lead normal lives.

OFFICE SPACE

Boston has a glut of vacant office space.

A survey of downtown office buildings shows a vacancy rate of nearly 18-percent.

Among the properties with the most vacancies, 500 Boylston Street, with an occupancy rate of just 38-percent.

50 Post Office Square has an occupancy rate of 47-percent.

At One International Place it's 60-percent and only 65-percent at Two Financial Center.

BUFFET'S OFFER

Billionaire Warren Buffett is putting his money where his mouth is.

Buffett says he's willing to match any contributions made by Republican members of Congress to reduce the national debt, dollar for dollar.

He's even offered to match Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell three-to-one.

Republicans have criticized Buffett for suggesting that the mega-rich, like himself, should pay more in taxes.

Buffett says he does not think many members of congress will take him up on the offer.

Watch Lisa's report:

Lisa van der Pool of the Boston Business Journal can be seen weekdays at 6 a.m. on WBZ-TV.

You can follow Lisa on Twitter at @lvanderpool.