Perlmutter is being honored "for distinguished contributions leading to a more detailed understanding of signaling pathways controlling lymphocyte development and activation and to the discovery and development of novel biotherapeutics," according to AAAS.
Perlmutter joined Amgen as head of Research & Development in 2001 and over the past decade has led the company's effort to develop a robust pipeline that focuses on novel therapeutics to treat serious illnesses. With more than 50 molecules in development, the majority of which target pathways that have not previously been addressed in humans, Amgen's pipeline includes potential new treatments for cancer, asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many other life-threatening conditions.
Founded in 1848, AAAS is an international nonprofit professional association dedicated to advancing science, engineering and innovation around the world. AAAS publishes the peer-reviewed journal Science, as well as scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide.
The complete list of 2009 Fellows appears in the Dec. 18 issue of Science.
About Roger M. Perlmutter
Dr. Perlmutter is Executive Vice President for Research and Development at Amgen. A graduate of Reed College (Portland, Oregon), Dr. Perlmutter received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Washington University (St. Louis) in 1979. Thereafter he pursued clinical training in internal medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and at the University of California at San Francisco. From 1981 to 1984 he was a Lecturer in the Division of Biology at the California Institute of Technology. He joined the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1984, and in 1989 became Professor and founding Chairman of the Department of Immunology there. During this period, Dr. Perlmutter focused his scientific efforts on the elucidation of signaling pathways governing lymphocyte development and activation. In 1997 he left the University of Washington to join Merck and Co., ultimately rising to the rank of Executive Vice President, Worldwide Basic and Preclinical Research. He left Merck in 2001 to join Amgen in California. Dr. Perlmutter is also a director of Stem Cells, Inc., a Trustee of Reed College, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Systems Biology, a not-for-profit research institute based in Seattle, Washington. He was previously President of the American Association of Immunologists, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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 http://www.amgen.com/.
CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Mary Klem: (805) 447-6979 (media)
John Shutter: (805) 447-1060 (investors)
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SOURCE Amgen