AMGEN WINS APPROVAL FOR NEW DRUG NEULASTA ADDS VALUE TO FIRM.Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. - Amgen's infection fighting drug Neulasta won approval from U.S. regulators, the biotechnology juggernaut said Thursday. Neulasta is a more powerful form of its popular Neupogen, which is used to boost the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. ``It's certainly a strong addition to their (Amgen's) existing portfolio,'' said Doug Christopher, analyst with Crowell Weedon in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . This approval could push combined annual sales of the two drugs to $2 billion a year by 2005, Amgen said. Neupogen sales totaled $1.3 billion in 2001. Ken Keller For the American academic administrator, see Kenneth H. Keller. Kenneth (Ken) W. Keller (January 1 1922 – February 24 1983) was an American basketball player. At 6'1" (1. , Amgen's senior director of marketing, said that Neulasta, which also bolsters cancer patients' immune system, is essentially a stronger form of Neupogen. Chemotherapy drugs seek and destroy normal cells and cancer cells cells once believed to be peculiar to cancers, but now know to be epithelial cells differing in no respect from those found elsewhere in the body, and distinguished only by peculiarity of location and grouping. See also: Cancer , including those that guard against infection. ``This product has almost a smart molecule because its able to regulate itself,'' said Keller, noting that Neulasta is also administered less frequently than Neupogen. Neupogen must be injected daily for up to 14 days, while Neulasta is injected only once after the patient receives chemotherapy. The United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. is the first country where Neulasta, known generically as pegfilgrastim, is approved. The product will be available to patients April 1. Fariba Ghodsian, analyst with Roth Capital Partners Roth Capital Partners, LLC, is a full service Investment Banking firm, specializing in the small and micro cap markets. Roth’s focus, according to its official website, "has been, is, and will continue to be providing the full spectrum of investment banking services, Inc. in Los Angeles, said although it appears the company is moving rapidly introducing new drugs, Neulasta will only add value to an already successful biotech company. ``This drug's rapid approval certainly came as complete surprise to us, but it's certainly positive,'' Ghodsian said said. With half a million patients currently undergoing chemotherapy in the U.S., Amgen's most challenging feat is educating consumers about the drug. Keller said currently one out of 10 chemotherapy patients receive Neupogen. ``One of the most important things we need to do is talk to people about the drug and let them know how effective it is,'' he said. Amgen shares rose 46 cents to close at $55.50 on Thursday. |
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