Amgen Expands Operations

Amgen has plans to invest in additional manufacturing and R&D operations in the U.S. and will expand its commercial operations in Europe. In Cork, Ireland, the company will invest more than $1 billion in new process development, bulk manufacturing and fill and finish facilities that will give the company capacity closer to the patients it serves in Europe. The company is also adding a manufacturing plant in Puerto Rico to produce Epogen and Aranesp. In 2005, Amgen received licensure of a Neupogen and Neulasta plant in PR and an Enbrel plant in RI, and announced plans to acquire Abgenix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company with a large manufacturing plant in Fremont, CA.

Amgen also intends to expand its existing R&D operations in Cambridge, MA, San Francisco, Seattle, and Cambridge, U.K., and build a new development center in Uxbridge, U.K. In addition, the company has moved its European headquarters from Lucerne to Zug, Switzerland, and formed a new entity, Amgen International, also located in Zug, that is expected to enhance access to Amgen’s vital medicines for patients in emerging markets in Central and Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The company anticipates that the facility in Cork will be operational by 2009 and, by 2010, expects to employ more than 1,100 people at the facility. “Amgen is pleased to establish a site in Ireland as part of our ongoing global development and manufacturing expansion,” said Fabrizio Bonanni, senior vice president, manufacturing. “As demand for our products grows in Europe, Amgen requires capacity closer to this important market. The company considered several attractive sites in other countries, but chose Ireland due to its thriving biotechnology community, infrastructure to support biologics manufacturing and attractive business climate,” said Mr. Bonanni. “Our new facilities in Cork will enhance our ability to deliver on Amgen’s robust pipeline.”

The plans to expand development activities in U.S. and Europe are intended to allow the company to develop pipeline products faster. “This significant, long-term investment in our global R&D infrastructure underscores the commitment of Amgen to be the world’s best human therapeutics company,” said Roger M. Perlmutter, executive vice president, R&D. “In particular, our growth in clinical development at Amgen San Francisco and Uxbridge, U.K. will provide the capability to deliver on the promise of our extraordinary pipeline.”