Amgen and LabCentral to support US life science start-ups through new scheme

Amgen is allying with shared laboratory space provider LabCentral on a new scheme to support innovative new life science companies based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The pharmaceutical company has become a LabCentral platinum sponsor, allowing it to nominate up to two promising life science and biotechnology start-up companies per year to take up residence at LabCentral's Kendall Square facilities.

Spanning 28,000 sq ft, the LabCentral site offers fully-permitted laboratory and office space for 28 start-ups, comprising approximately 125 scientists and entrepreneurs. Other sponsors include Triumvirate Environmental and Johnson and Johnson Innovation.

It is hoped that this initiative will lead to the development of new pharmaceutical products that address key human health needs.

Sasha Kamb, Amgen's senior vice-president for discovery research, said: "Amgen is excited to sponsor LabCentral as we seek additional opportunities to leverage the power of collaboration that occurs naturally within a world-renowned biotech community such as Cambridge."

This comes after the firm announced a 30 percent increase to its 2015 first-quarter dividend earlier this month.