The name "AMGen" is aportmanteau of the company's original name, Applied Molecular Genetics, which became the official name of the company in 1983 (three years after incorporation and coincident with itsinitial public offering). The company is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "AMGN", as well as a component of theNasdaq-100, theDow Jones Industrial Average, and theS&P 100 and500 indices.
AMGen corporate logo, 1983Argentine presidentMauricio Macri meets with heads of Amgen, in 2018.
Amgen was established in Thousand Oaks in 1980, as Applied Molecular Genetics.[6][7] Amgen was backed by a small group of venture capitalists, and its early focus was onrecombinant DNA technology and recombinant humaninsulin.[8]
On June 17, 1983, Amgen went public, selling two millioncommon shares and raising nearly $40 million.[10][11][12] That same year, after more than two years of work, an Amgen research team led byFu-Kuen Lin had a breakthrough in finding and cloning theerythropoietin gene, a protein created in the kidney that stimulatesred blood cell production. Lin's team created what would become Epogen (epoetin alfa).[13][14]
In October 1988,Gordon Binder was named CEO, succeeding George Rathmann.[17] The following year, in 1989, Amgen received approval for the first recombinant human erythropoetin product, Epogen (epoetin alfa).[18][19]
In February 1991, Amgen received FDA approval for Neupogen for the prevention of infections in patients whose immune systems are suppressed due to cancer chemotherapy.[20][21]
Amgen opened a new manufacturing facility inPuerto Rico, in March 1993, which later became the company's flagship manufacturing site.[22][23]
In 1994, Amgen became the fifth company to receive theU.S. Department of Commerce'sNational Medal of Technology and Innovation, in recognition of its work developing medicines to improve quality of life for kidney and cancer patients.[24] Also around this time, Amgen researcher Steve Elliott and his team added more sugar molecules to erythropoietin, causing it to remain in the body longer. This led to the development of Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa).[25]
Binder was succeeded as CEO byKevin W. Sharer in 2000.[26] Robert A. Bradway became Amgen's president and chief executive officer in May 2012, following Sharer's retirement.[27]
In March 2011, Amgen acquired a manufacturing facility near Dublin, Ireland, in March.[28]
Amgen also opened an affiliate in China in 2013.[29][30]
In November 2014 the company announced it was halting all trials ofrilotumumab in advancedgastric cancer patients after one of the trials found more deaths in those who took the compound with chemotherapy, than those without.[31] Later in the same week, the company in conjunction withAstraZeneca reported positive results forbrodalumab in a Phase III trial comparing the compound withustekinumab and aplacebo in treatingpsoriasis.[32] In the same month, construction was completed on Amgen's next-generation biomanufacturing facility in Singapore.[33] Blincyto (blinatumomab) was approved by the FDA in December of that year.[34][35]
Amgen's Thousand Oaks staff in 2022 numbered approximately 5,000[36] (8.5% of total city employment)[37] and included hundreds of scientists, making Amgen the largest employer inVentura County.[7][38]
1984: In June, Amgen and Kirin formed a joint venture giving Kirin the rights to Epogen in Japan.[39][40]
2002: In July, Amgen acquired Immunex, the developer of Enbrel (etanercept).[41]
2004: Also, Amgen acquired Tularik, another biotechnology company, expanding the company's research and development pipeline.[42][43]
2006: In April, Amgen acquired Abgenix, the developer of Vectibix (panitumumab), a treatment developed for certain patients with metastaticcolorectal cancer.[44][45]
2010: On June 6, 2010, Amgen receivedFDA approval for Prolia, a protein drug for the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis.[46] In clinical trials, Prolia reduced the rate of vertebral fractures by 61% and the risk of hip fractures by 40%.[47] In November 2010 theFDA approved Xgeva for the prevention of complications of bone metastases in patients with solid tumors.[48] The clinical trials primarily enrolled patients with breast or prostate cancer.
2012: Amgen acquired Micromet, a company focused onBiTE technology.[54][55]
2013: Lawmakers inserted text into the fiscal cliff bill that would allow the drugmaker to sell a class of drugs that includes Sensipar without government controls for an additional two years. The New York Times estimated that the paragraph in the fiscal cliff bill will cost taxpayers an estimated $500 million[56] but other assessments concluded that the change would protect seniors in rural areas and reduce overall Medicare spending.[57][58] In May, Kevin Sharer retired, and Robert Bradway, formerly Amgen's president and chief operating officer, became CEO.[59] In June, Amgen acquired Turkish company Mustafa Nevzat Pharmaceuticals, expanding Amgen's presence in Turkey and nearby areas.[60] In July, Amgen acquired KAI Pharmaceuticals, developer of Parsabiv (etelcalcetide).[61][62] Amgen acquired Iceland-baseddeCODE Genetics in December.[63]
2015: In March, the company announced it would license its Phase II candidate drugAMG 714 to developerCelimmune who plan to develop the anti-IL-15monoclonal antibody for treatment against diet nonresponsiveceliac disease and refractory celiac disease.[65]
2015: Repatha (evolocumab) was approved by the FDA in August.[66] In September the company announced it would acquire Dezima Pharma for more than $1.55 billion.[67][68] The same day the company announced a collaboration with Xencor on 6 early stage immuno-oncology and inflammation programmes. As part of the deal Amgen will pay $45 million upfront, with the deal being worth up to another $1.7 billion.[69][70] In October, the FDA approved Imlygic.[71]
2016: In September, the company announced it would purchase the rights toBoehringer Ingelheims Phase I bispecific T-cell engager compound (BI 836909, now AMG 420) for use in the treatment ofmultiple myeloma.[72] Also in September, the FDA approved Amjevita (adalimumab-atto).[73]
2017: The FDA approved Parsabiv in February[74] and Mvasi (bevacizumab-awwb) in September.[75]
2019: In January, Evenity (romosozumab) received approval in Japan,[77][78] followed by FDA approval in April.[79] In June, Kanjinti (trastuzumab-anns) was approved by the FDA.[80] Amgen announced it would acquire Nuevolution AB for 1.61 billion Swedish crowns ($166.8 million) to enhance its drug discovery capabilities.[81] In August the company announced it would acquire theOtezla drug programme fromCelgene for $13.4 billion, as part of Celgene andBristol-Myers Squibbs merger deal.[82][83] In October, Amgen announced it would be acquiring a 20.5% stake in theBeijing-based BeiGene for $2.7 billion.[84] In November, Amgen awarded a $2 million grant to theCDC Foundation to launch the latter's EmPOWERED Health Program, promoting patient engagement in decision making for their cancer treatment.[85] In December, the FDA approved Avsola (infliximab-axxq).[86]
2020: In April, Amgen established Amgen K.K. as the company's wholly-owned affiliate in Japan.[87][88] Amgen announced in July that theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit had upheld the validity of two Amgen patents that described and claimed Enbrel and methods for making it. The appellate court affirmed an August 2019 decision by theUnited States District Court for the District of New Jersey and rejectedSandoz's attempt to invalidate the patents on Enbrel.[89] Amgen joined theDow Jones Industrial Average on August 24, 2020.[90] In September, Amgen andEli Lilly and Company announced a global manufacturing collaboration forCOVID-19 antibody therapies.[91] On December 10, Amgen announced that it joined OneTen, a coalition of large employers that aims to hire and advance one million black Americans over the next ten years.[92] Later that month, the FDA approved Riabni (rituximab-arrx), a biosimilar to Rituxan.[93]
2021: In March, the company announced it would acquire Five Prime Therapeutics and its lead candidate,bemarituzumab, for $1.9 billion.[94][95][96] In the same month, Amgen acquired Rodeo Therapeutics for $720 million.[97][98] The FDA approved Amgen'sLumakras in May for treatment of patients with KRAS-G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.[99] In June, Amgen andKyowa Kirin announced joint plans to develop and commercialize a treatment foratopic dermatitis.[100] In July, Amgen acquired Teneobio for $900 million.[101] In October, Amgen and Neumora Therapeutics announced a research and development collaboration focused on novel precision therapies for certain brain diseases.[102][103] Amgen began construction on a new biomanufacturing plant inNew Albany, Ohio, in November.[104] In December, the FDA approved Amgen and AstraZeneca's Tezspire (tezepelumab) for severeasthma.[105] The FDA also approved Amgen's Otezla for adults with plaquepsoriasis of any severity level.[106]
2022: In January, Amgen announced a research collaboration with Generate Biomedicines across multiple modalities and several therapeutic areas for up to $1.9 billion.[107][108] The company also launched a multi-target collaboration withArrakis Therapeutics to identify novel targeted RNA degrader therapeutics.[109][110] The next month, Amgen entered a multi-year collaboration with Plexium to discover novel targeted protein degradation therapies.[111][112] Also in February, Amgen issued its firstgreen bond to fund various environmentally friendly initiatives across the company.[113][114] The company broke ground on a new manufacturing facility inHolly Springs, North Carolina, in March.[115][116] In August, the company agreed to acquire ChemoCentryx for $3.7 billion in an all-cash deal.[117] ChemoCentryx is the maker ofTavneos—a drug treatment for rare diseases called anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associatedvasculitis—which was approved last year.[118] In December, the company announced it would acquireHorizon Therapeutics for $27.8 billion ($116.50 in cash for each Horizon share, a 20% premium) expanding its rare disease treatments.[119]
2023: Amgen completed the acquisition ofHorizon Therapeutics in October 2023.[120] In December, announced plans to use artificial intelligence in partnership with Amazon Web Services to help discover and create medicines.[121] Amgen will use Amazon's SageMaker machine learning service to help with the manufacturing process.[121] That same month, it was confirmed that Amgen would sponsor the 2024 Irish Open as the title sponsor.[122]
In October 2017, the Amgen Foundation pledged $3 million toKhan Academy to support the development of free online biology lessons.[123][124] In July 2020, Amgen granted an additional $3 million Khan Academy to support educational equity and science learning.[125][126]
In January 2020, the Amgen Foundation andHarvard University debuted LabXchange, a free online science education platform.[127][128] Amgen and the Amgen Foundation announced a commitment of up to $12.5 million to support COVID-19 relief efforts in March.[129]
Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec) for local treatment of unresectable cutaneous, subcutaneous, and nodal lesions in melanoma recurrent after initial surgery (FDA approved October 2015)[144]
Xgeva (denosumab) for the prevention of skeletal-related events (pathological fracture, radiation to bone, spinal cord compression or surgery to bone in adults with bone metastases from solid tumors)
In August 2020, Amgen,Takeda, andAbbVie, as part of a COVID-19 research and development (R&D) alliance, announced the first patients enrolled in the I-SPY COVID clinical trial. The trial evaluated the efficacy of Otezla and two other medicines in severely ill, hospitalized COVID-19 patients who required high-flow oxygen.[158]
In October 2020, Amgen announced positive topline Phase 2 results from the CodeBreaK 100 clinical study, evaluating sotorasib in 126 patients with KRAS G12C-mutant advanced NSCLC who had failed three or fewer prior lines of anti-cancer therapies (includingimmunotherapy and/or chemotherapy).[159] Amgen, the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research, andEisai Co., Ltd. also announced enrollment of the first patient in a study testing multiple interventions for the treatment of patients hospitalized with COVID-19.[160][161]
In November 2020, Amgen, Takeda, andUCB, as part of the COVID R&D alliance, announced the first patient enrolled in another trial evaluating Otezla and two other drugs as treatments for COVID-19.[162] Amgen also announced that it would terminate its collaboration withCytokinetics and transition the development and commercialization rights foromecamtiv mecarbil and AMG 594.[163] Amgen andAstraZeneca announced positive topline results from a Phase 3 trial in which the investigational medicinetezepelumab demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in exacerbations in patients with severe asthma.[164]
In December 2020, the FDA grantedbreakthrough therapy designation to sotorasib for advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients with KRAS G12C mutation.[165]
In May 2021, sotorasib received accelerated approval from FDA for treatment of adult patients with NSCLC whose tumors have a KRAS G12C mutation and who have received at least one prior systemic therapy; this was the first approved targeted therapy for tumors with any KRAS mutation.[166] Similar approvals for sotorasib in NSCLC followed in January 2022 in Europe[167] and Japan.[168]
In September 2022, data from a late-stage study showed the company's cancer pill Lumakras beating out chemotherapy. This was the first approved drug in the set of treatments that target KRAS, among the most common generic mutations found in cancers but one where researchers have struggled for years to design drugs to treat. The drug was approved in 2021 with a list price of $17,900 per month.[169]
In March 2025, data for the drug Tezspire, showed the best results for treating chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.[170] In the same month, Amgen announced the start of two late-stage trials for MariTide, a weight loss drug.[171][172]
Amgen reported TotalCO2e emissions (Direct + Indirect) for the twelve months ending 31 December 2020 at 243 Kt (-6 /-2.4% y-o-y)[173] and aims to reach net zero emissions by 2027.[174]
Amgen's annual Total CO2e Emissions - Location-Based Scope 1 + Scope 2 (in kilotonnes)[173]
TheLos Angeles Times reported on December 18, 2012, that Amgen pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $150 million in criminal penalty and $612 million to resolve 11 relatedwhistleblower complaints. Federal prosecutors accused the company of pursuing profits while putting patients at risk.[175] Larry Husten, a contributor at Forbes.com elaborates on AMGEN's illegal marketing practices in this case, namely that the "government accused Amgen of marketing Aranesp for indications not approved by the FDA and other illegal marketing practices".[176]
Institute for Advanced Study - Donor to various IAS campaigns, including the IAS/Park City Mathematics Institute (PCMI), the Regional Initiative in Science and Education (RISE), and the Opportunity Equation (OE).[177]
LA Promise Fund - Sponsor of the Amgen Biotech Experience Los Angeles (ABE-LA).[178]
US$33.4 billion (2024)
US$7.26 billion (2024)
