UPDATE 4-Despite Biogen profit dip, shares rise on MS drug optimism

* Net profit falls on tax error

* 2013 forecast weaker than expected

* Q4 adjusted earnings $1.40/shr vs $1.46 view (Updates with CFO and analyst comments)

By Toni Clarke

BOSTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Biogen Idec Inc (NasdaqGS: BIIB - news) said fourth-quarter net profit fell slightly due to a tax accounting error, but the company's shares rose more than 3 percent Monday on higher-than-expected drug sales and optimism over a new multiple sclerosis treatment.

The oral drug BG-12, to be sold under the brand name Tecfidera, is expected to become a leading treatment for multiple sclerosis after its planned second quarter introduction.

Gene Mack, an analyst at Brean Capital LLC, estimates that by 2015, Tecfidera will account for $1.4 billion, or roughly 25 percent, of the company's multiple sclerosis drug sales.

In the fourth quarter, global sales of Biogen's multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri rose 14 percent to $433 million a year ago, while sales of another MS treatment, Avonex, rose 7 percent to $753 million, the company said. Biogen markets Tysabri in conjunction with Elan Corp Plc.

"We believe we are entering into an era of significant long-term growth driven by multiple potential new product launches," George Scangos, Biogen's chief executive officer, told analysts on a conference call.

Biogen's shares rose 3.4 percent to $151.14 in morning trading on Nasdaq. Earlier, they traded as high as $156.94.

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UPDATE 4-Despite Biogen profit dip, shares rise on MS drug optimism