Amgen 2002 Annual Report Download - page 20

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Page 18
deliver Manufacturing biologically derived therapeutics is a
demanding process, one that grows in complexity with increases in scale.
Amgen has played a pioneering role in the commercial manufacture of
recombinant human proteins. The company is committed to expanding its
global manufacturing capabilities in step with rising demand.
inflammation
The abnormal, destructive inflammation cascade associated with rheumatoid arthritis and
similar diseases of the immune system has been a key target of Amgen research programs.
Chronic inflammation causes painful swelling of the joints and, left untreated, can destroy
bones and joints, leading to disability and deformity. With the completion last year of its
acquisition of Immunex Corporation, Amgen now manufactures and markets two therapeu-
tics available in the treatment of these diseases.
ENBREL
®
(etanercept) is a breakthrough therapeutic developed by Immunex that targets
one of the major factors in the immune system to help control the pain, swelling, fatigue,
and other symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It also inhibits the progression of
damage to joints caused by chronic inflammation.
ENBREL
®
is a soluble recombinant form of a receptor for the cytokine tumor necrosis
factor (TNF), one of the human proteins that plays an important role in both normal immune
function and the cascade of reactions that causes the inflammatory lesions of rheumatoid
arthritis and similar diseases. ENBREL
®
acts by binding TNF, rendering it biologically
inactive, which results in a significant reduction in inflammatory activity.
ENBREL
®
is the only human TNF receptor product on the market with evidence of five years
of sustained effect in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It has been shown to benefit