January 3, 2000 - Biotechnology stocks are expected to outperform the broader market in 2000. Amgen is expected to have a very good year.

December 28 - Amgen has apparently filed applications with US and European regulators for approval of its extended-release version of Epogen, "NESP". This is ahead of schedule and Amgen's stock price rose 8.5% on the news.

A U.S. District Court judge said he will review a request by Amgen for a quick decision on claims that tiny rival Transkaryotic Therapies violated Amgen patents by developing a product similar to its best-selling drug Epogen. Story from the LA Times.

October 1 - Amgen today dedicated its state-of-the-art Longmont (Colorado) Manufacturing Facility which will initially be used for the production of Epoetin alfa.

September 29 - Amgen announced that an extended-release version (NESP) of its anemia drug Epogen is as effective as the original. The stock price jumped 5% on the news.

September 22 - Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. announced today that Amgen has filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Boston to amend its original complaint against Transkaryotic and Hoechst Marion Roussel to include two more patents.

Amgen makes EPO and its patents have made Amgen the sole provider of EPO to the dialysis marketplace. Amgen has been one of the hottest stocks of the 90's. If you bought their stock early on, you're probably sitting pretty. If you didn't, here's what you missed.

June 9, 1999 - The folks at Transkaryotic and Hoechst Marion Roussel are restarting their efforts to produce EPO without infringing on Amgen's patent.

Here is the Hoechst Marion Roussel web site. They are responsible for the clinical development.

Here is a company profile of Transkaryotic Therapies. They would do the manufacturing.

Here is a two-year old press release from Amgen describing their point of view.


[This message has been edited by Gary Peterson (edited 01-04-2000).]

The trial has been set for April 2000.



[This message has been edited by Gary Peterson (edited 09-22-1999).]