Amgen appoints accountancy firm

Biotech company Amgen has appointed Ernst & Young as its independent registered public accountants for 2008.

The proposal to appoint this company was ratified by 97.6 per cent of shareholders in Amgen at the therapeutics firm’s annual meeting of stockholders.

About 86.9 per cent of outstanding shares were represented at the meeting, Amgen stated.

Other matters on the meeting agenda included re-elections to the board of directors of several existing members, meaning the company currently has 11 directors.

In addition, stockholders backed a nonbinding resolution to do away with supermajority voting requirements in its bylaws and certificate of incorporation.

Stockholders also rejected an undefined proposal relating to animal welfare.

Founded in 1980, Amgen focuses on cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses and is a Fortune 500 company.

It is headquartered in California and had bases in more than 30 other countries including the UK, Mexico, Hong Kong, Austria and Greece.