How many partners does Amgen have?
Amgen’s website indicates that the company currently has more than 100 active collaborations at all stages from early stage development to late stage licensing.
How does Amgen form alliances?
Amgen actively seeks innovations with other companies and universities and its scientists and corporate development specialists are in constant contact with their peers to find new collaborations.
In 2004 Amgen set up Amgen Ventures Fund with an initial commitment of $100 million. The Fund invests in early-stage biotechnology companies focused on discovering and developing human therapeutics with a focus in areas of current therapeutic interest to Amgen. It also invests in companies with novel modalities with the potential to address targets in both current and emerging therapeutic areas of interest. Amgen Ventures’ portfolio includes: Allozyne, Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, DecImmune, Epizyme, MiRagen Therapeutics, Mirina Corporation, Theraclone, Synovex, TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals, Trinity Biosystems, VLST, Xori Corporation
Who are Amgen’s partners?
Amgen does not provide a full list of its partners, but some of its partners are the following: Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Biovitrum AB, Cytokinetics, Daiichi Sankyo, Gamida Cell Ltd, ImmunoGen, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKlein, Johnson & Johnson, Millennium, Servier, Takeda, UCB, ViaCell, and Wyeth.
What collaborations has Amgen entered into over the past few years?
- In September 2009 Amgen partnered with ImmunoGen Inc to use ImmunoGen’s technology to develop anticancer therapies for solid tumors. Under the agreement Immogen received a $1 million up-front payment and is eligible to receive $34 million in potential milestone payments, plus royalties.
- In July 2009 Amgen partnered with GlaxoSmithKline to share commercialisation of Amgen’s monoclonal antibody denosumab for postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico once the product is approved in these countries. Amgen will commercialise the drug for PMO and oncology in the United States and Canada and for all oncology indications in Europe and specified markets. GlaxoSmithKline will register and commercialise denosumab for all indications in countries where Amgen does not currently have a commercial presence, including China, Brazil, India and South Korea. The structure of the collaboration allows Amgen the option of an expanded role in commercialisation in both Europe and certain emerging markets in the future. Financial terms of the partnership include an initial payment and near-term commercial milestones to Amgen totaling $120 million, and ongoing royalties. In Europe, Amgen and GlaxoSmithKline will share profits after accounting for expenses associated with the partnership. In emerging markets, GlaxoSmithKline will be responsible for all commercialisation expenses and purchase denosumab from Amgen to meet demand.
- In September 2008, Amgen licensed to Biovitrum AB the marketed biologic therapeutic products Kepivance (palifermin) and Stemgen (ancestim), and Kineret (anakinra) for its current approved indication.
- In February 2008 Amgen licensed to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd the exclusive rights to develop and commercialise for the Japanese market up to 12 clinical stage molecules from Amgen’s pipeline across a range of therapeutic areas, including oncology and inflammation. The molecules covered by the license agreement primarily include: AMG 108, AMG 317, AMG,386, AMG 479, AMG 655 and Vectibix®. Amgen reserved the right to participate in the promotion of these products in Japan. Under the agreement Amgen received $200 million upfront and is eligible for up to $340 million in development costs—not just for Japanese, but for worldwide development—plus up to $362 million in sales-linked milestones, and royalties. In addition, Amgen entered into a collaboration agreement with Takeda for the worldwide development and commercialisation of motesanib (AMG 706), a drug in Phase III clinical trials which is a small molecule angiogenesis inhibitor for cancer. Each company has the right to participate in the commercialisation of motesanib in the other party’s territory. For this part of the agreement Amgen received $100 million upfront and is eligible for $175 million in additional success-based milestones and double-digit royalties on Japan sales. Overall Takeda is to cover 60% of ongoing development expenses for the drugs outside of Japan, and share profits on a 50-50 basis. Under the agreement Takeda also acquired Amgen’s subsidiary in Japan, Amgen KK.
- In July 2007 Amgen entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd, giving Daiichi the exclusive rights to develop and commercialise denosumab in Japan in post-menopausal oesteoporosis and oncology with the potential for additional indications. Under the agreement Amgen received £20 million up front and $150 million contribution towards global development costs. As part of the agreement, Amgen also received exclusive worldwide rights to certain Daiichi Sankyo intellectual property to the extent applicable to denosumab.
- In December 2006 Amgen entered into a worldwide collaboration agreement, excluding Japan, with Cytokinetics Inc to discover, develop and commercialise novel small-molecule therapeutics that activate cardiac muscle contractility for potential application in the treatment of heart failure. In addition, Amgen obtained an option to participate in future developments and commercialisation of Cytokinetics’ lead drug candidate arising from this programme, CK-1827452. In May 2009 Amgen exercised its option to obtain an exclusive license, worldwide (excluding Japan), to Cytokinetics’ cardiac contractility programme. The license includes CK-1827452, a novel cardiac myosin activator being developed for the treatment of heart failure. Under the terms of 2006 collaboration and option agreement, Amgen agreed to pay Cytokinetics a non-refundable exercise fee of $50 million and assumed responsibility for development and commercialization of CK-1827452 and related compounds, at its expense, subject to specified development and commercial participation rights of Cytokinetics.
- In 1985 Amgen granted Johnson & Johnson a license to commercialize recombinant human erythropoietin as a human therapeutic in the United States in all markets other than dialysis. All recombinant human erythropoietin sold by Johnson & Johnson in the United States is manufactured by Amgen and sold by Johnson & Johnson. Pursuant to the license agreement with Johnson & Johnson Amgen earns 10% royalty on net sales of the drug by Johnson & Johnson in the United States.
- In 1984 Amgen formed KA, a 50-50 joint venture with Kirin whereby KA would develop and commercialises certain products of the two companies. In connection with our various license agreements with KA, Amgen pays KA royalties based on product sales. In addition, Amgen receives payment from KA for conducting certain R&D activities on its behaf. KA has given Amgen exclusive licenses to to manufacture and market: (i) darbepoetin alfa in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, all Central and South American countries and certain countries in Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, (ii) pegfilgrastim and G-CSF in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, (iii) recombinant human erythropoietin in the United States and (iv) romiplostim in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, all Central and South American countries and certain African and Middle East countries. KA has also given exclusive licenses to Kirin to manufacture and market: (i) darbepoetin alfa and romiplostim in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea and certain other countries in Asia, (ii) pegfilgrastim and G-CSF in Japan, Taiwan and Korea and (iii) recombinant human erythropoietin in Japan. Kirin markets darbepoetin alfa in Japan under the brand name NESP®. Kirin markets G-CSF and recombinant human erythropoietin in China under a separate agreement with KA. Kirin markets its G-CSF product in its respective territories under the trademark GRAN®. Kirin markets its recombinant human erythropoietin product in Japan under the trademark ESPO®. KA has licensed to Johnson & Johnson rights to recombinant human erythropoietin in all geographic areas of the world outside the United States, China and Japan. J&J pays a royalty to KA based on sales. KA has also licensed to Roche rights to pegfilgrastim and G-CSF in certain geographic areas of the world.
- Amgen and Wyeth have a co-promotion agreement to market and sell Enbrel in the United States and Canada for all approved indications. The rights to market Enbrel outside of the United States and Canada are
reserved to Wyeth. Under the agreement, a management committee comprised of equal representation from Wyeth and Amgen is responsible for overseeing the marketing and sales of Enbrel, including
strategic planning, the approval of an annual marketing plan, product pricing and the establishment of a brand team. The brand team, with equal representation from each party, prepares and implements the annual marketing plan, which requires a minimum level of financial and sales personnel commitment from each party, and is responsible for all sales activities. Wyeth and Amgen each pay a defined percentage of all selling and marketing expenses approved by the management committee. In addition, Amgen pays Wyeth a percentage of the annual gross profits on its Enbrel sales to reflect the sharing of manufacturing costs in the United States and Canada attributable to all approved indications for Enbrel on a scale that increases as gross profits increase; however, Amgen maintains a majority share of the drug’s profits. Wyeth is required to reimburse Amgen for: (i) certain clinical and regulatory expenses Amgen incurs in connection with the filing and approval of any new indications for Enbrel in the United States and Canada, (ii) certain specified patent expenses related to Enbrel and (iii) certain costs, expenses and liabilities associated with the manufacture, use or sale of the drug in the United States and Canada. Amgen also has a global supply agreement with Wyeth related to the manufacture, supply and allocation of bulk supplies of Enbrel. Under this agreement, the two companies share the total worldwide bulk supply of Enbrel produced by Amgen’s Rhode Island manufacturing facility, BI Pharma’s manufacturing facility in Germany and Wyeth’s manufacturing facility in Ireland.
