Amgen has expanded its operations into Brazil with the acquisition of Bergamo, a privately held Brazilian pharmaceutical company, for approximately $215 million. Amgen will also reacquire rights in Brazil to its products that were previously granted to Mantecorp (now Hypermarcas).

Bergamo supplies medicines to hospitals in Brazil and has capabilities in oncology medicines as well as manufacturing facilities in Sao Paulo. Bergamo had revenues of $80 million in 2010.

Under the agreement with Hypermarcas, Amgen reacquires the rights to several products, two of which are approved in Brazil, Vectibix (panitumumab) and Mimpara (cinacalcet), and a third, romiplostim, (registered as Nplate in the U.S.), a treatment for the blood disorder ITP, which is currently under review by ANVISA, the regulatory authority in Brazil.

“Amgen’s strategic goal is to make our innovative medicines available to patients in major markets around the world,” said Kevin Sharer, Amgen’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Acquiring Bergamo, a profitable company with an established local infrastructure, and regaining the rights to our products in Brazil, provides us an attractive entry into the Brazilian market.”