Amgen: Pioneering Science Delivers Vital Medicines

Scientists at Amgen pursue fundamental cellular signaling pathways. Following these uncharted molecular trails can lead to important discoveries about the root causes of grievous illnesses – and to new targets for drug development. Amgen researchers have found pathways that play a role in various types of cancer, bone loss, and immune system and inflammatory disorders. The result is a robust pipeline that currently contains more than 50 molecules from late discovery research through Phase 3 clinical trials

The Principled Pursuit of Innovation

Amgen’s Research and Development teams follow four guiding principles:

Focus on grievous illness
Patients suffering from the greatest unmet medical needs are Amgen’s first priority. Approximately 90 percent of the new molecules that Amgen is bringing into the clinic target pathways that have never previously been addressed in humans. Many of these are aimed at cancer, an area in which Amgen is conducting clinical trials in more than a dozen different tumor types.

Be modality independent
In other words, choose the right tool for the task. Amgen scientists look first at the disease process, then seek to determine the most advantageous therapeutic approach, be it large-molecule biologic, antibody, peptibody or small molecule (oral) therapy.

Study disease in people
Studying disease in people is the best way to develop medicines for people. Experimental models often have little predictive value, and promising preclinical studies too often lead to high-cost clinical failures. Amgen seeks to identify safe and effective disease interdiction methods as early as possible in the development process, using biomarkers and other tools.

Seamless integration
Amgen is structured to incorporate perspectives from health economics, regulatory and government affairs, clinical development and basic research into all development programs. Being rigorous in our prioritization, clear in our focus, and attentive to all aspects of therapeutic intervention enables us to develop medicines that address important unmet medical needs while also presenting a compelling value proposition for society.

Pathways in cancer research

Amgen oncology researchers are fighting cancer on multiple fronts, including:

Growth Regulation:
Identifying and blocking the path-ways that regulate cancer cells’ ability to proliferate, migrate, invade, and survive

Angiogenesis:
Preventing tumors from stimulating the formation of new blood vessels to feed them

Apoptosis:
Enabling programmed cell death, or "cancer cell suicide"

Bone Metabolism and Metastases:
Controlling the signals that trigger bone buildup and breakdown, in an effort to treat and prevent the spread of cancer to the bone

Amgen: Bringing the Promise of Biotecnology to Life

At Amgen, we use innovative research to improve the health of patients.

As pioneers in biotechnology, we apply our expertise to discover, create and deliver vital medicines that so far, have helped more than 15 million people in their fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, we’re working to continue to bring the promise of biotechnology to life – to help many more.

- Roger M. Perlmutter, Amgen Executive Vice President, Research & Development