Amgen 2001 Annual Report Download - page 25

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AMG 073 is the company’s first
small molecule therapeutic under
development and was licensed from
NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. This orally
active compound increases the sensitivity
of the calcium-sensing receptor on the
surface of the parathyroid gland, inhibit-
ing the secretion of excessive amounts of
parathyroid hormone (PTH). Abnormally
high levels of PTH can result in a variety
of medical complications. For example,
secondary hyperparathyroidism is present
in 85% of patients with end-stage renal
disease. Based on promising phase 2
data, Amgen recently initiated a phase 3
clinical trial of AMG 073 in secondary
hyperparathyroidism.
Licensing and other collaborative
arrangements with external organizations
are an important source of product
candidates for Amgen that can comple-
ment internal research and development
activities. In recent months, the company
has entered into several new agreements
with external groups to extend and
enhance the value of its internal research
programs.
In December 2001, Amgen agreed to
work with Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
on the discovery of antisense drugs using
that company’s proprietary technology.
Antisense drugs work by using genetic
information directly to inhibit the
production of disease-causing proteins.
R&D Targets
In the same month, the company estab-
lished an agreement with ACADIA
Pharmaceuticals to search for novel
small molecule therapeutics using its
proprietary chemical-genomics platform.
This collaboration seeks to identify small
molecule leads for up to 12 genomic
targets, using those leads to explore the
therapeutic potential of each target. More
recently, Amgen entered a collaboration
with Hyseq Pharmaceuticals for the
development of Amgen’s product candi-
date Alfimeprase. Based on preclinical
studies, Alfimeprase appears to be a
promising agent for dissolving blood clots
in the possible treatment of peripheral
arterial occlusion.
Internal research programs and external
collaborations supply Amgen with a
robust pipeline of potential therapeutics
supported by clinical development
capabilities around the world. This
international network of clinical facilities
annually conducts hundreds of human
trials. With Amgen’s growing number of
product candidates, that level of activity
is expected to increase.
AMG 073, a calcimimetic
compound, advanced to phase
3 clinical trials last year in
the treatment of secondary
hyperparathyroidism.
23