THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2005--Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq:AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, today announced a significant increase in its funding to foundation-sponsored patient assistance programs for 2005. These programs are designed to ensure access for patients with cancer or kidney disease who cannot afford the co-payments for prescription drug therapies critical to their overall treatment. Amgen is increasing the level of this patient assistance to an unprecedented $18 million in 2005.
"Ensuring that patients have access to innovative therapies is part of Amgen's commitment to helping patients facing serious illness live better and longer lives," said George Morrow, executive vice president, global commercial operations at Amgen.
With the $18 million, Amgen is providing grants to several independent non-profit charitable foundations to assist patients in 2005. Each foundation will assess patients' eligibility to receive co-payment assistance based upon their own independent objective eligibility criteria.
Providers and patients interested in determining what financial assistance programs may be available should call Amgen's Reimbursement Connection(R) at 1-800-272-9376. The Reimbursement Connection has an extensive database of potential resources available to assist patients who are uninsured, underinsured or need assistance in paying their co-pays, including referral to independent patient assistance programs.
About Amgen
Amgen is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets important human therapeutics based on advances in cellular and molecular biology.
EDITOR'S NOTE: An electronic version of this news release may be accessed via our Web site at www.amgen.com. Journalists and media representatives may sign up to receive all news releases electronically at time of announcement by filling out a short form in the Media section of the Web site.
CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Andrea Rothschild, 805-447-4587 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)
SOURCE: Amgen