Obesity is one of the world’s foremost public health challenges. It is estimated that more than 1 billion people live with obesity today. It’s also an underlying factor for a number of debilitating diseases, contributing to significant economic and societal challenges.
These staggering data points are not lost on Amgen’s head of Obesity and Related Conditions.
“Obesity affects all parts of the world, and people of all different populations,” says Susan Sweeney, executive vice president of Obesity and Related Conditions. “Whether in our own lives or the lives of friends and family, we have all experienced someone living with obesity or an obesity-related condition because it’s associated with everything from cardiovascular disease and diabetes to inflammatory diseases and even some types of cancers.”
Building a Career on Positive Impact for Patients
Before taking the helm of Amgen’s ambitious efforts in obesity and related conditions, Sweeney made a name for herself as a biopharmaceutical executive. She has been instrumental in the launch of products that have had a meaningful impact on patients, while at Amgen, and at Bristol Myers Squibb previously.
After college, she felt motivated to seek out a career where she could make a real difference. “I found my purpose starting at a small medical device company before moving into biotech,” she says. “Having a job where I could make an impact for patients really connected with my passion."
Sweeney went on to earn a master's degree in public health and build a career in which her ability to make a positive impact for patients has grown exponentially. Over nearly three decades, she has worked in commercialization, lifecycle management and value and access for conditions like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, oncology and inflammatory diseases, all closely connected with obesity.
Now, as obesity reaches startling proportions globally, her leadership and vision are guiding what could be among the more impactful areas of therapeutic focus that Amgen has ever undertaken.
Made for This Moment
For more than 40 years, Amgen has been a leader in biotechnology, discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative medicines that help millions of people around the world. Amgen’s depth of expertise—from the use of technology and human genetic data in designing new therapies, to the company’s long-running reputation for biomanufacturing and supply chain reliability—has uniquely positioned the company for this moment.
“One of our strengths is the collaboration and cooperation across our teams and functions, coming together with the goal of helping people living with obesity,” Sweeney says. “I believe that culture of working together is a big part of what drives innovation and our ability to deliver on our mission to serve patients.”
Susan Sweeney speaking on a panel with Amgen Obesity and Related Conditions team leaders. Photo by Dana Pleasant for Amgen.
Amgen’s obesity efforts include GLP-1 research and a new scientific approach with GIPR antagonism. That discovery was later validated by Amgen’s subsidiary, deCODE genetics, using human data accumulated from hundreds of thousands of people across several countries. From there, Amgen’s lead molecule targeting obesity moved to pre-clinical and clinical studies. In parallel with clinical trials, Sweeney’s team is laying the groundwork for a potential launch that would ensure the medicine can be made available to as many patients as possible around the world, as quickly as possible.
“It takes a village to build a medicine and a product that can make a profound impact,” Sweeney says. “For obesity we’re exploring multiple indications to bring to market—we haven’t done that before at this level.”
Putting People and Patients First
Sweeney has learned directly from patients about the challenges of living with obesity and related conditions, from receiving a diagnosis to accessing effective treatments. Even with promising new drugs entering the market, many patients struggle with insurance approvals, supply challenges and navigating the healthcare system.
Sweeney acknowledges that her personal health journey has given her new perspective on the vital importance of patient experience. “Everything we do at Amgen must be with the patient in mind and understanding their path,” she says, “Everything from frequency of dosing to interactions with insurance companies, are critical considerations.”
“For many patients, ‘go home and try diet and exercise’ is the message they’ve been hearing from their doctors for years,” she explains. “And while diet and exercise are valuable, that advice does not address all contributing factors of obesity, because obesity is a chronic and heterogenous disease – meaning it has several etiologies or root causes, including genetics.”
Leading a Diverse Team to Make a Difference
As a leader, Sweeney places a strong emphasis on mentorship and team development. “Our ability to make the impact we want for patients is based on the health of our team,” she says. “I've always had a passion for mentorship and learning from others, and we’re creating opportunities for people from many different experiences and backgrounds to work together on this opportunity.”
Members of the Obesity and Related Conditions leadership team visiting a manufacturing area at Amgen's headquarters in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
As Amgen’s obesity program moves forward, Sweeney’s leadership will play a vital role in shaping the global fight against obesity. Thanks to her deep expertise, passion for patients and a collaborative approach to leadership, she is steering Amgen toward helping even more people live longer, healthier lives.
