Amgen
Encyclopedia
Amgen Inc. is an international biotechnology
company
headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California
. Located in the Conejo Valley
, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products
include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel
, Kineret
, Neulasta, Neupogen
, Sensipar / Mimpara, Nplate, and Prolia. Epogen and Neupogen (the company's first products on the market) were the two most successful biopharmaceutical
products at the time of their respective releases.
BusinessWeek
ranked Amgen first on the S&P 500
for being one of the most "future-oriented" of those five hundred corporation
s. BusinessWeek ostensibly calculated the ratio
of research and development
spending, combined with capital spending, to total outlays; Amgen had the fourth highest ratio, at 506:1000.
Amgen is the largest employer in Thousand Oaks
and second only to the United States Navy
in terms of number of people employed in Ventura County
.
With plans to expand into market.
It is a leading member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
, a coalition of over 400 companies and NGOs that promotes increased funding for US diplomatic and international development programs.
In 2010, Amgen
began sponsoring the Tour of California, one of only three major Union Cycliste Internationale
events in the United States
.
The word AMGen is a portmanteau of the company's original name, Applied Molecular Genetics, which became the official name of the company in 1983 (three years after incorporation and coincident with its initial public offering
). The company's first chief executive officer
, from 1980, was George B. Rathmann, followed by Gordon M. Binder
in 1988, followed by Kevin W. Sharer
in 2000. The company has made at least five major corporate acquisitions
.
s or therapeutic biologicals for seventeen conditions (conditions lists are highly generalized; see each article for more detail):
In other drug discovery
phases (Phases I, II, III
and in preclinical development), the company has twenty-three pharmacologic agents
for twenty-eight conditions; nineteen of the candidates are not currently approved for any indication.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
company
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
. Located in the Conejo Valley
Conejo Valley
The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both southeastern Ventura County and northwestern Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States...
, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products
Product (business)
In general, the product is defined as a "thing produced by labor or effort" or the "result of an act or a process", and stems from the verb produce, from the Latin prōdūce ' lead or bring forth'. Since 1575, the word "product" has referred to anything produced...
include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel
Etanercept
Etanercept is a drug that treats autoimmune diseases by interfering with the tumor necrosis factor by acting as a TNF inhibitor. Pfizer describes in a SEC filing that the drug is used to treat rheumatoid, juvenile rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis...
, Kineret
Anakinra
Anakinra is a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.-Mechanism:Anakinra is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist...
, Neulasta, Neupogen
Filgrastim
Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor analog used to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of granulocytes. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology. The gene for human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is inserted into the genetic material of Escherichia coli. ...
, Sensipar / Mimpara, Nplate, and Prolia. Epogen and Neupogen (the company's first products on the market) were the two most successful biopharmaceutical
Biopharmaceutical
Biopharmaceuticals are medical drugs produced using biotechnology. They include proteins , nucleic acids and living microorganisms like virus and bacteria where the virulence of viruses and bacteria is reduced by the process of attenuation, they can be used for therapeutic or in vivo diagnostic...
products at the time of their respective releases.
BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
ranked Amgen first on the S&P 500
S&P 500
The S&P 500 is a free-float capitalization-weighted index published since 1957 of the prices of 500 large-cap common stocks actively traded in the United States. The stocks included in the S&P 500 are those of large publicly held companies that trade on either of the two largest American stock...
for being one of the most "future-oriented" of those five hundred corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s. BusinessWeek ostensibly calculated the ratio
Ratio
In mathematics, a ratio is a relationship between two numbers of the same kind , usually expressed as "a to b" or a:b, sometimes expressed arithmetically as a dimensionless quotient of the two which explicitly indicates how many times the first number contains the second In mathematics, a ratio is...
of research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
spending, combined with capital spending, to total outlays; Amgen had the fourth highest ratio, at 506:1000.
Amgen is the largest employer in Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
and second only to the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in terms of number of people employed in Ventura County
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
.
With plans to expand into market.
It is a leading member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, also known as the USGLC, is a influential, broad-based organization formed by a coalition of 400 American businesses and NGOs, senior national security and foreign policy experts, and diverse range of community leaders from across the country who promote...
, a coalition of over 400 companies and NGOs that promotes increased funding for US diplomatic and international development programs.
In 2010, Amgen
Amgen
Amgen Inc. is an international biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Located in the Conejo Valley, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret,...
began sponsoring the Tour of California, one of only three major Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
events in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
). The company's first chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, from 1980, was George B. Rathmann, followed by Gordon M. Binder
Gordon Binder
Gordon M. Binder is an American corporate executive. He is managing director of Coastview Capital, LLC, and previously was chairman and CEO of Amgen. He joined Amgen in 1982, and previously had executive roles at the United Geophysical Corporation and the System Development Corporation. Binder is...
in 1988, followed by Kevin W. Sharer
Kevin W. Sharer
Kevin W. Sharer is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Amgen Inc. He also serves on the Board of 3M, Northrop-Grumman, and the California Institute of Technology. Bio at http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/S-Z/Sharer-Kevin-W-1948.html.- Compensation :While CEO of Amgen in...
in 2000. The company has made at least five major corporate acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
.
Acquisition history
- 1994 - Synergen, Inc.
- 2000 - Kinetix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- 2002 - Immunex Corporation
- 2004 - Tularik, Inc.
- 2006 - Abgenix, Inc.
- 2006 - Avidia, Inc.
- 2007 - Ilypsa, Inc.
- 2007 - Alantos Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
- 2011 - BioVex Group, Inc.
Products
As of August 9, 2011, Amgen had twelve approved drugApproved drug
In the United States, the FDA approves drugs. Before a drug can be prescribed, it must undergo an extensive FDA approval process. This process involves first testing the drug on animals or in medical labs. If found to be safe by the FDA and approved for the next phase of study, the drug is then...
s or therapeutic biologicals for seventeen conditions (conditions lists are highly generalized; see each article for more detail):
- Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa)Darbepoetin alfaDarbepoetin alfa is a synthetic form of erythropoietin. It stimulates erythropoiesis and is used to treat anemia, commonly associated with chronic renal failure and cancer chemotherapy...
(for anemiaAnemiaAnemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
) - Enbrel (Etanercept)EtanerceptEtanercept is a drug that treats autoimmune diseases by interfering with the tumor necrosis factor by acting as a TNF inhibitor. Pfizer describes in a SEC filing that the drug is used to treat rheumatoid, juvenile rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis...
(for various forms of arthritisArthritisArthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
) - Epogen (Epoetin) (also known as Procrit; for anemiaAnemiaAnemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
) - Kepivance (Palifermin)PaliferminPalifermin is a human recombinant keratinocyte growth factor produced in Escherichia coli...
(for oral mucositis) - Kineret (Anakinra)AnakinraAnakinra is a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.-Mechanism:Anakinra is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist...
(for rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
) - Neupogen (Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor) (for neutropeniaNeutropeniaNeutropenia, from Latin prefix neutro- and Greek suffix -πενία , is a granulocyte disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils, the most important type of white blood cell...
) - Neulasta (PEG Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor or "Pegfilgrastim") (for neutropeniaNeutropeniaNeutropenia, from Latin prefix neutro- and Greek suffix -πενία , is a granulocyte disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils, the most important type of white blood cell...
) - Vectibix (Panitumumab)PanitumumabPanitumumab , formerly ABX-EGF, is a fully human monoclonal antibody specific to the epidermal growth factor receptor ....
(for colon cancer) - Sensipar/Mimpara (Cinacalcet)CinacalcetCinacalcet is a drug that acts as a calcimimetic by allosteric activation of the calcium-sensing receptor that is expressed in various human organ tissues. It is sold by Amgen under the trade name Sensipar in North America and Australia and as Mimpara in Europe...
(for Primary & Secondary hyperparathyroidismSecondary hyperparathyroidismSecondary hyperparathyroidism refers to the excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid glands in response to hypocalcemia and associated hypertrophy of the glands. This disorder is especially seen in patients with chronic renal failure...
, a mineral metabolism complication common in patients with kidney failure) - Nplate (Romiplostim)RomiplostimRomiplostim is a fusion protein analog of thrombopoietin, a hormone that regulates platelet production. The drug was developed by Amgen and is marketed under the trade name Nplate through a restricted usage program called NEXUS...
(for chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura) - Prolia (denosumab)DenosumabDenosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody for the treatment of osteoporosis, treatment induced bone loss, bone metastases, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple myeloma and giant cell tumor of bone. It was developed by the company Amgen....
(for postmenopausal osteoporosisOsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
) - XGEVA (denosumab)DenosumabDenosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody for the treatment of osteoporosis, treatment induced bone loss, bone metastases, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple myeloma and giant cell tumor of bone. It was developed by the company Amgen....
(for the prevention of skeletal-related events (SREs) (pathological fracture, radiation to bone, spinal cord compression or surgery to bone) in adults with bone metastases from solid tumors)
In other drug discovery
Drug discovery
In the fields of medicine, biotechnology and pharmacology, drug discovery is the process by which drugs are discovered or designed.In the past most drugs have been discovered either by identifying the active ingredient from traditional remedies or by serendipitous discovery...
phases (Phases I, II, III
Clinical trial
Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
and in preclinical development), the company has twenty-three pharmacologic agents
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
for twenty-eight conditions; nineteen of the candidates are not currently approved for any indication.
See also
- Kirin-Amgen v Hoechst Marion RousselKirin-Amgen v Hoechst Marion RousselKirin-Amgen, Inc. v Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd. is a decision by the House of Lords of England and Wales. The judgment was issued on 21 October 2004 and relates to the scope to be accorded to patent claims, including the doctrine of equivalents. The case and subsequent judgment affirmed principles...
, a UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
patentPatentA patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
case decided by the House of LordsHouse of LordsThe House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
External links
- Official website
- Company Profile at Pharmaceutical Business Review
- Amgen Inc. Company Profile Profile at Google Finance.