Amgen launches new AmBER biology research programme

Amgen has announced the launch of the Amgen Biology-Enabling Resource (AmBER), a new suite of tools and assets that will aid basic biology research efforts.

This new catalogue of qualified tools and reagents includes more than 1,000 elements, such as small molecules, peptides, antibodies and recombinant proteins, engineered cell lines, and genetically-engineered mice.

It will be made available to academic institutions to help further research and advance basic discoveries in biology, while also helping to deepen Amgen's relationships with these organisations.

The tools were originally created to support Amgen's discovery activities and have been extensively validated in most cases. The company will provide materials on request, with no claim to ownership of intellectual property to discoveries that may ensue.

Dr Alexander Kamb, senior vice-president of discovery research at Amgen, said: "We see AmBER as an important contribution in our effort to connect with the academic community and to help advance scientific discovery."

The company achieved double-digit growth during the first quarter of 2015, thanks to strong demand for products such as Enbrel, Prolia, Epogen, Sensipar and Xgeva.