Amgen 2004 Annual Report Download - page 9

The science ENBREL® was originally
discovered and developed by scientists
at Immunex Corporation, acquired
by Amgen in 2002. It is a soluble
receptor that inhibits tumor necrosis
factor (TNF), a protein that plays an
important role in both normal immune
function and in the reactions that cause
joint and skin infl ammation. ENBREL®
mimics the body’s natural regulatory
mechanism for TNF, working like
a sponge by binding to TNF and
rendering the bound TNF biologically
inactive, thereby reducing infl ammation.
Help for psoriasis Imagine facing the world each day with
severely cracked, bleeding, and itchy skin, and you may get a
sense of the pain endured by people with psoriasis — a pain that
goes beyond the physical discomfort that accompanies this
devastating chronic condition.
Moderate to severe psoriasis affects approximately 1.5 million
people in the United States alone. For some time, they have
had many treatment options, from phototherapy to topical
creams and other medications. Unfortunately, these options can
have shortcomings. Phototherapy and topical treatments are not
always practical (creams, for example, may need to be applied
several times a day) and may not be very effective. Some treat-
ments, such as cyclosporine or methotrexate, can be extremely
effective, but potentially toxic and immunosuppressive over time.
“There has been a big unmet need for a treatment that was both
generally well-tolerated and effective,” says Scott Burton, senior
director of Sales and Marketing for ENBREL
®
.
With ENBREL
®
, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in 2004 for use in chronic moderate to
severe plaque psoriasis, Amgen is attempting to fi ll that need.
In one study, three out of four psoriasis patients taking ENBREL
®
had dramatic clearing after only three months on therapy. And
because ENBREL
®
has been used since 1998 to treat rheumatoid
arthritis, and subsequently other infl ammatory conditions, it
has a long track record of real-world patient experience.
“It’s hard to overstate the impact of this disease; people feel
incredibly ostracized,” Burton says. “It’s wonderful how happy
they are when their skin fi nally starts to clear.”
Ahead of the class In 2004,ENBREL
®
had more approved uses
than any other TNF inhibitor: It is indicated for the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing
spondylitis (arthritis of the spine), psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.
The psoriasis indication means that ENBREL
®
will now benefi t
many more patients in the United States. Amgen has also fi led
for a psoriasis indication for ENBREL
®
in Canada.
Also in 2004, the FDA approved a new 50 mg/mL pre-fi lled
syringe that can be administered once weekly for most patients.
Before, patients had to mix and inject ENBREL
®
twice a week.
“What was a 14-step process is now much simpler, which is espe-
cially appreciated by patients suffering from rheumatoid arthri-
tis,” explains Helen Jordan, director of Rheumatology Marketing
for ENBREL
®
.
Amgen 2004 Annual Report page 7