THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Oct 16, 2003 -- Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, today announced that H. Christian Fibiger, Ph.D., has been named Vice President and Global Therapeutic Area Head for Neuroscience Research and that Paul G. Pearson, Ph.D., has been appointed Vice President of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism (PKDM). These two new vice presidents will support the continuing growth of the company's pipeline and its discovery of important new human therapeutics.
Dr. Fibiger comes to Amgen from Eli Lilly and Company, where he served as Vice President, Neuroscience Discovery Research and Clinical Investigation, and Vice President, Lilly Research Laboratories, Europe. Before joining Amgen, Dr. Pearson was Executive Director, Preclinical Drug Metabolism at Merck Research Laboratories.
"Dr. Fibiger possesses a rare combination of proven business leadership capabilities and stellar scientific credentials," said Joseph P. Miletich, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research and Preclinical Development. "As a member of the company's research leadership team, Dr. Fibiger will be responsible for driving the next phase of Amgen's global neuroscience research strategy and efforts."
"We are expanding our commitment in neuroscience research because of enormous unmet medical needs," said Dr. Miletich. "Dr. Fibiger will lead our existing neuroscience research efforts in areas such as Parkinson's disease, as well as help us develop novel therapeutics for other serious illnesses."
Dr. Pearson will enhance Amgen's efforts across PKDM, especially in early stage drug discovery, where the identification of robust drug candidates is a critical first step in the development process. "Dr. Pearson brings a rich scientific and technical background combined with extensive experience in preclinical drug development. He will provide Amgen with a new level of leadership in this vital area," said Dr. Miletich.
At Eli Lilly, Dr. Fibiger led the company's global discovery and development activities in neuroscience and managed the company's four European discovery and development sites. Prior to joining Lilly in 1998, Dr. Fibiger had a lengthy, distinguished career at the University of British Columbia that spanned 28 years. He is the author or co-author of more than 400 scientific publications, has been an associate editor of the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience since 1990, and was co-editor-in-chief of the Neuropsychopharmacology journal from 1995-1998. He is active in a number of professional organizations, including being a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and a member of the International Society of Neurochemistry. He also served as a Member of Council in the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology from 2001-2003. Dr. Fibiger is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, including the Tanenbaum Distinguished Scientist Award in Schizophrenia Research (1993) and the Janssen Prize for Innovations in Neuropsychopharmacology Research (1996).
Dr. Fibiger holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and Psychology from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and a Ph.D. in Psychopharmacology from Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
As Merck's Executive Director of Preclinical Drug Metabolism, Dr. Pearson was responsible for providing PKDM support for drug discovery and development programs at the company's two largest sites. He also managed all Preclinical Drug Metabolism activities in support of drug development efforts. He served as a member of Merck's Safety Assessment Review Committee and Preclinical Development Review Committee and other leadership teams dedicated to long- range planning and drug development.
Dr. Pearson received a B.Sc. in Pharmacy and a Ph.D. in Mechanistic Drug Metabolism and Toxicology from Aston University, Birmingham, England.
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.
Forward-looking Statements
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, 2002, 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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