THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 2008--Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) today announced its intent to comply with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's (PhRMA) revised "Code on Interactions with U.S. Healthcare Professionals." The company's announcement of its voluntary support for the Code is the latest element of Clearly Amgen, the company's ongoing initiative to provide clear communications about and easy access to Amgen's policies and practices on ethical research, clinical data disclosure, responsible marketing and other topics of interest to Amgen stakeholders.
PhRMA today unveiled its updated and enhanced Code on interactions between U.S. healthcare professionals and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. The Code, which will take effect in January 2009, provides firm guidance on such interactions including the use of promotional materials; grants and consulting arrangements; meals and entertainment; continuing medical education; clinical practice guidelines; and sales and marketing training for company representatives. The new Code is available at www.phrma.org.
"As a science-driven and values-based company, Amgen is committed to exchanging information with healthcare providers in an ethical and responsible way, and with the best interests of patients always in mind," said Kevin Sharer, Amgen's chairman and chief executive officer. "We fully support the new PhRMA Code. We will continue to ensure that our practices consistently meet or exceed its guidelines."
Amgen currently makes information about its marketing policies and practices publicly available on its Clearly Amgen Web site (www.amgen.com/about/amgen_policies). Launched in December 2007, the Clearly Amgen site is updated on an ongoing basis. Most recently, in May 2008, Amgen began posting grants and charitable donations made by the Amgen Medical Education department (AmgenMED) and the Amgen Foundation. The donations lists will be updated on a quarterly basis.
About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures 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 deep and broad 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.
About the Amgen Foundation
The Amgen Foundation (www.amgen.com/citizenship/overview.html) seeks to advance science education, improve patient access to quality care, and strengthen the communities where Amgen staff members live and work. Since 1991, the foundation has made nearly $110 million in grants to local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. It has also supported disaster relief efforts both domestically and internationally.
CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA and Washington, DC
Kelley Davenport: 202-585-9637
SOURCE: Amgen