Amgen Positioned to Deliver Attractive Growth Over Next Five Years

At an Amgen meeting of about 200 securities analysts and investors in New York City, several members of its senior management team outlined the company's growth strategy, which includes delivering on its pipeline -- including the experimental bone drug denosumab -- growing in-line products and continuing to pursue operating efficiencies.

"In 2001, Amgen had two blockbuster products and today we have five blockbusters on the market," said Amgen Chairman and CEO Kevin Sharer. "Over the next five years we could have three more drugs achieve blockbuster status: Sensipar (cinacalcet), denosumab for osteoporosis and denosumab for cancer-related indications."

Roger M Perlmutter, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for Research and Development (R&D), noted that increased investment in R&D has more than doubled the size of Amgen's pipeline. In 2001, Amgen had about 20 molecules in the pipeline. In 2008 there are more than 50.

"We are optimistic that our pipeline will deliver a number of innovative products, including denosumab, that will provide important treatments for patients around the world who suffer from grievous illness," Perlmutter said.

Amgen is anticipating 17 key Phase 2 and 3 clinical study results in 2009 and 2010, including for denosumab (oncology), AMG 386 and AMG 655 for various cancer indications, and its Sensipar/Mimpara EVOLVE trial, an outcomes study in dialysis patients. The Company has completed enrollment of most of its denosumab oncology studies and expects to have the opportunity to review data from the first skeletal-related events (SRE) studies in the first half of 2009.

Amgen expects to complete its biologic license application (BLA) data package for denosumab for post menopausal osteoporosis by the end of 2008 or early 2009. Amgen looks forward to working in due course with regulatory authorities and governments worldwide to secure appropriate approval for marketing, coverage and reimbursement for denosumab and other late phase pipeline opportunities.