Amgen and West Pharmaceutical Services have entered an agreement to evaluate Daikyo Crystal Zenith technologies for drug containment. These technologies were developed by West's partner, Daikyo Seiko, Ltd., and are based on a polymeric container, utilizing elastomeric components with Flurotec barrier film, and provided in a sterile, validated, ready-to-fill format. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Biopharmaceutical therapeutic products require a drug container that enables safe, effective and reliable containment," said Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D., West's chairman and chief executive officer. "We are delighted to formalize our plan to work with Amgen for evaluating the use of Daikyo Crystal Zenith in commercializing Amgen's therapeutics. We value this long-standing relationship and look forward to helping Amgen to meet its objective of advancing science and biotechnology to serve patients."

Martin VanTrieste, Amgen's senior vice president, Quality, commented, "Amgen has had a long relationship with West and is excited about strengthening this relationship. As a company that values innovation, we have been impressed with the innovations of West and Daikyo in container-closure systems."