Amgen discovers good medicine Down Under April 2009 The US biotech, Amgen, rates Australia as one of the top medical study locations outside the United States. One of the world’s largest biotechnology companies, Amgen has been running clinical trials in Australia for more than twenty years now. Of the global studies in which it participates, Amgen’s Australian subsidiary contributes ten per cent of clinical trial patients to the organisation’s worldwide research pool and has been instrumental in the development of a number of the company’s best-selling products. Ian Thompson, Amgen Australia’s Managing Director, said that the company reaps the benefits of being able to access Australia’s wide range of scientific talent, the country’s tight-knit network of biotechnology research organisations, and Australia’s excellent medical infrastructure. “Amgen has partnerships with Australian research institutes and universities which ensure that we can take advantage of leading-edge biotechnology research,” he said. “In return, we invest US$4 million in Australia each year in the form of research funds, fellowship grants and licensing agreements.” Pioneered California-based Amgen pioneered the use of human proteins as therapeutic agents to treat serious illnesses such as cancer, inflammation and kidney disease; scientists have combined biotechnology with chemistry and cellular and molecular biology to develop treatments. As a result, the company is an expert in multiple treatment modalities – large-molecule proteins, small molecules and antibodies – allowing it to choose the best modality to treat a disease. Amgen employs 17,000 staff in 35 countries, generating revenue of US$15 billion in 2008. The Australian subsidiary employs more than 145 staff, half of whom are involved in clinical trial work. Headquartered in Sydney, Amgen Australia has offices in five cities and also provides project management and support for clinical trials in Auckland, New Zealand. Research & Development is a major component of Amgen’s activities. The company’s global R&D investment totalled US$2.9 billion in 2008, while Amgen Australia invested A$35million in local research and development. It is anticipated that this yearly investment will increase by around ten per cent during 2009. Clinical research work Amgen began clinical research work in Australia in 1987, carrying out Phase I clinical trial work for Neupogen®, which helps reduce the incidence of infection in patients undergoing certain cancer chemotherapy. “In the years since, Amgen Australia has been involved in more than 165 clinical trials and has contributed to the clinical trial program for the company’s biggest selling products, including Aranesp®, Neulasta®, Sensipar®, N-plate® and Vectibix®,” Mr Thompson said. “We currently have 51 active studies across five therapeutic areas, including oncology/haematology, nephrology, inflammation, bone and oncology “The scope of these studies ranges from first-time-in-human (FTIH) administration to Phase IV clinical trials,” he said. “Approximately 25 per cent of our clinical trials are in Phase I, while 20 per cent in Phase II, 45 per cent in Phase III and 10 per cent in Phase IV.” Mr Thompson explained that the clinical trials are conducted at more than 300 sites across Australia, including hospitals and research centres, with approximately 1,100 active participants. “We find Australia an outstanding location for clinical trials and the type of research the company undertakes,” he said. “There is a strong network of physicians, researchers and medical institutes and the quality of investigation is very high. Its standard of medical practice is among the best in the world.” Outreach program Mr Thompson said that Amgen actively seeks strategic partnerships with research and medical institutions. “As part of our Outreach Program we invest in early-stage biotechnology companies that focus on discovering and developing human therapeutics. “This program offers these companies access to Amgen’s extensive capabilities while ensuring that we have insight into research innovations that may pave the way for future collaboration.” Amgen’s global outreach team has visited Australia every year since 2003 for the AusBiotech National Conference, the premier life sciences event for the Asia-Pacific region. “Supporting basic research helps all of us to better understand the biology of a disease. The outreach program we run in Australia has been extremely fruitful for us and the companies and institutes we have relationships with,” Mr Thompson said. More information |