Purpose

Amgen recognizes the importance of sound public policy in achieving our goal of serving patients by providing therapies that have the power to restore health or even save lives.  Accordingly, Amgen participates in the political process and supports those candidates, committees, and other organizations who work to advance healthcare innovation and improve patient access.

Policy

Federal Issues

Although federal law prohibits corporations from making contributions in federal elections, a corporation may administer a political action committee (“PAC”) for its employees. Amgen employees may participate in the political process through Amgen PAC.

• In making contribution decisions, the Amgen PAC Board evaluates a variety of factors, including candidate’s views on issues of importance to Amgen, committee assignments, and the presence of Amgen facilities in the candidate’s district or state.
• Amgen PAC supports candidates of both parties.
• Amgen is committed to conducting Amgen PAC in accordance with the federal laws and regulations that regulate activities of political action committees.
• All PAC contributions are publicly disclosed in reports that are available on the website of the Federal Election Commission at www.fec.gov.

State and Local Elected Offices

• In some states, corporate contributions to candidates for state or local elected offices are permissible.
• Under certain circumstances, Amgen may lawfully contribute to other political committees and political organizations. Amgen is committed to complying with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations that govern such contributions.
• Amgen’s Government Affairs department selects candidates to support based on similar criteria as the Amgen PAC.
• Amgen retains an external political compliance vendor to review corporate political contributions and Amgen PAC disbursements. In addition, Amgen retains specialized election law counsel to assist with compliance with all applicable laws.

Responsibilities

The Government Affairs department regularly updates the Corporate Responsibility and Compliance Committee of the Board of Directors on political and public policy issues of importance to Amgen. As part of its oversight role, that Committee annually reviews Amgen’s policies, practices, and overall philosophy for making political contributions. Contributions are audited on a regular basis and made in accordance with company policies approved by senior management, who are charged with administering those policies and ensuring compliance with them. The Amgen Board of Directors recognizes that the use of Amgen’s resources in the political process is an important issue for stockholders.

Additional Information

To improve access to information about Amgen’s corporate political contributions in the United States Amgen posts, on a semi-annual basis, our contributions categorized by state, candidate, and amount. A report containing our political contributions for 2006 can be found here.

Last updated on: January 30, 2007