THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 2005--Amgen (Nasdaq:AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, today announced that it will initiate a Phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter, multi-national trial to evaluate the effect of anemia treatment with darbepoetin alfa on morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure.
"Numerous epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated that lower hemoglobin values, reflecting a condition known as anemia, are associated with increased hospitalizations and mortality in heart failure patients," said James Young, M.D., chairman of the Division of Medicine at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, and co-chair of the Executive Committee for this trial. "These studies have generated a very strong hypothesis that if you raise hemoglobin values with darbepoetin alfa, you can improve outcomes in this patient population. This landmark trial will test this important hypothesis."
The Executive Committee for this Phase 3 trial will be co-chaired by Karl Swedberg, professor of Medicine at Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra-Goteborg University in Sweden.
"Amgen's decision to proceed with its Phase 3 trial in heart failure is driven both by results from epidemiological studies, as well as by our recently completed Phase 2 pilot studies of anemia treatment in heart failure patients which provided us with encouraging results," said Willard Dere, M.D., senior vice president for Global Development and chief medical officer at Amgen. "We are excited at the potential for darbepoetin alfa to help heart failure patients, especially given the grievous nature of this illness. Despite the use of various currently available treatment options, the morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure remains high, and we hope that darbepoetin alfa will help address this important unmet medical need."
According to the American Heart Association, approximately five million Americans and over four million Europeans suffer from heart failure. Over twenty three million suffer from heart failure worldwide.(1) Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization for people over the age of 65 years and causes almost one million hospitalizations each year.(2) This condition results in decreased oxygen delivery to the body due to a poorly functioning heart. Anemia reduces the oxygen content of the blood. When both heart failure and anemia occur together, oxygen delivery is further hampered, leading to a worsened condition for the patient. Although anemia is a common condition in heart failure patients, physicians caring for them have typically overlooked anemia in the absence of definitive studies suggesting that it should be treated.
Results from Amgen's Phase 2 pilot studies of anemia in heart failure patients will be released in early 2006. More information about Amgen's Phase 3 trial in heart failure is available at www.amgentrials.com.
About Aranesp(R) (darbepoetin alfa)
Aranesp is a recombinant erythropoietic protein (a protein that stimulates production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells). Amgen revolutionized anemia treatment with the development of a recombinant erythropoietin, epoetin alfa, which is currently marketed in the U.S. by Amgen as EPOGEN(R) (Epoetin alfa)(3) and by Ortho Biotech Products, LP, as Procrit(R) (Epoetin alfa)(4). Building on this heritage, Amgen developed Aranesp, which contains two additional sialic acid-containing carbohydrate chains than the Epoetin alfa molecule, resulting in more activity, with the added benefit of less-frequent administration.
Aranesp was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2001 for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic renal failure, also known as CKD, for patients on dialysis and patients not on dialysis. In July 2002, Aranesp was approved by the FDA for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies.
Aranesp is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and patients with known hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients. Erythropoietic therapies may increase the risk of thrombotic and other serious events; dose reductions are recommended if the hemoglobin increase exceeds 1.0 g/dL in any two-week period. The most commonly reported side effects in Aranesp trials were fatigue, edema, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and dyspnea.
The Aranesp dosage should be adjusted for each patient to achieve and maintain a target hemoglobin not to exceed 12 g/dL. Doses must be individualized to ensure that hemoglobin is maintained at an appropriate level for each patient.
About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and others that can be found in Amgen's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and in Amgen's periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Full prescribing information for Aranesp(R) is available at www.aranesp.com.
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.
(1)American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: 2005 Update, Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; 2005.
(2)Ansari M, Massie BM. Heart failure: how big is the problem? Who are the patients? What does the future hold? Am Heart J. 2003;146:1-4.
(3)EPOGEN(R) is a registered trademark of Amgen, Inc.
(4)PROCRIT(R) is a registered trademark of Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.
CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Anne McNickle (805) 447-4587 (media) Arvind Sood, (805) 447-1060 (investors) SOURCE: Amgen