Amgen 2006 Annual Report Download - page 29

Amgen 2006 Annual Report 27
2006 Highlights
Pipeline News
As of year-end 2006, nearly 41,000 patients in 39 countries
were enrolled in Amgen clinical trials.
Amgen researchers delivered 12 new pipeline candidates.
The FDA approved Vectibix™ (panitumumab), the first fully
human monoclonal antibody for the treatment of patients with
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr)-expressing metastatic
colorectal cancer after disease progression on or following
standard chemotherapy. Amgen has applied for regulatory
approval of Vectibix™ in Australia, Canada, Switzerland and
the European Union.
Amgen initiated EVOLVE, an international phase 3 clinical outcomes
study designed to determine whether Sensipar® (cinacalcet HCl)
can effectively reduce the risk of mortality and cardiovascular
morbidity in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism and
chronic kidney disease undergoing maintenance dialysis.
Amgen opened enrollment for RED-HF, a large global phase 3
study to evaluate the effect of treatment of anemia with darbepoetin
alfa on morbidity and mortality in patients with symptomatic left
ventricular heart failure.
Interim results from phase 2 trials of denosumab were
announced in the New England Journal of Medicine and at
scientific meetings.
Product News
The FDA approved every-three-week dosing of Aranesp®
(darbepoetin alfa) for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced
anemia in patients with non-myeloid malignancies.
Global Expansion
In early 2006, the company announced plans to build a major
new manufacturing site in County Cork, Ireland.
Amgen continued its major manufacturing expansion in
Puerto Rico with the addition of a new plant to produce
recombinant erythropoietic factors as bulk drug substance
and with the announcement of plans for further expansion.
Amgen opened new offices in Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
Mexico City, Mexico; and Hong Kong, China.
The company opened a new European Development Centre in
Uxbridge, U.K., and began expansion of existing research
and development operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts;
South San Francisco; Seattle; and Cambridge, U.K.
Amgen opened new international headquarters in Zug, Switzerland,
and formed a new entity, Amgen International, intended to enhance
access to the company’s medicines in emerging markets.
External Development
Amgen completed the acquisition of Abgenix, Inc., providing
the company with full ownership of Vectibix™ and the plant in
Fremont, California, dedicated to its manufacture. The acquisition
also eliminated a tiered royalty payment on denosumab and
brought important scientific knowledge and assets to Amgen,
including the proprietary XenoMouse® technology.
Amgen acquired Avidia, Inc., a privately held company in the
San Francisco Bay Area that discovers and develops a new
class of human therapeutic known as Avimer™ proteins.
Cytokinetics Incorporated and Amgen entered into a worldwide
(excluding Japan) collaboration to discover, develop and
commercialize novel small-molecule therapeutics for heart
failure, including Cytokinetics’ lead candidate from this program,
which recently completed phase 1 trials.
Corporate Citizenship
In 2006, grants made through the Amgen Foundation, Amgen’s
corporate giving and product donations totaled more than a
quarter of a billion dollars.
The Amgen Foundation, in partnership with 10 of the nation’s
leading universities, announced Amgen Scholars, a $25 million,
eight-year program that will provide hands-on research
experience for hundreds of undergraduate students.
Through Amgen’s 2006 Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative, more
than $1 million was contributed to organizations that help people
affected by cancer. Charity rides and other fundraising activities
complement the company’s sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of
California professional cycling race.
Recognition
Amgen was ranked first among large companies by The Scientist
on its 2006 “Best Places to Work in Industry” survey.
In Barron’s 2006 investor survey of the most respected global
companies, Amgen ranked 10th and was the highest-ranked
biotechnology company on the list.
Pharmaceutical Executive named Amgen its 2006 “Company
of the Year.”
Amgen was included in Business Week’s list of the “World’s
Most Innovative Companies.”
Fortune magazine listed Amgen among its top 10 “Blue Ribbon
Companies.” To qualify, a firm had to appear on numerous
“best of” business lists. Amgen appeared on six qualifying lists
in 2006: The Fortune 500; Fortune’s “America’s Most Admired
Companies,” “Global Most Admired Companies,” “100 Top MBA
Employers” and “100 Best Companies to Work For;” and
Business 2.0’s “Fastest-Growing Tech Companies.”