Amgen discusses oncology therapeutics pipeline

Amgen has asserted it is an “exciting” year for the firm in terms of its oncology therapeutics pipeline.

The company is due to present data on a number of compounds ? including AMG 386, a peptibody that binds to and inhibits angiopoietins 1 and 2 ? next week at the 2009 American Association for Cancer Research’s annual meeting.

The biotechnology firm – that has facilities and subsidiaries worldwide, including England, France and Germany ? will also discuss compounds AMG 479 and AMG 102.

Dr C Glenn Begley, vice-president of Amgen’s global hematology and oncology research, said it could be a good 12 months for the business due to results from a number of clinical programmes becoming available.

“The data being presented at this meeting further our biologic understanding of these novel compounds and pathways – and inform our thinking regarding opportunities to develop predictive or prognostic biomarkers,” he remarked.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration accepted Amgen’s denosumab submission for the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

As well as in the European Union and America, the company has also submitted marketing applications for the therapy in Switzerland, Canada and Australia.