Amgen and Kirin announce agreement with Novo Nordisk to license platelet factor.THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 1995--Amgen (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :AMGN) and Kirin Tuesday announced that they have signed an agreement with Novo Nordisk through which Novo Nordisk and certain of its subsidiaries (including ZymoGenetics) have licensed to Amgen, Kirin and Kirin-Amgen rights to thrombopoietin, a protein hormone that stimulates the production of platelets in the blood. Platelets are involved in the blood's process of clotting. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The acquisition of these rights from Novo Nordisk complements the development of Megakaryocyte megakaryocyte /mega·karyo·cyte/ (-sit?) the giant cell of bone marrow containing a greatly lobulated nucleus, from which mature blood platelets originate.megakaryocyt´ic meg·a·kar·y·o·cyte n. Growth and Development Factor (MGDF MGDF Megakaryocyte Growth and Development Factor ), Amgen's novel platelet growth factor that Amgen and Kirin are co-developing. Amgen and Kirin announced last April that Amgen had begun human clinical trials of MGDF to evaluate its safety and efficacy in reducing the severity and duration of thrombocytopenia Thrombocytopenia Definition Thrombocytopenia is an abnormal drop in the number of blood cells involved in forming blood clots. These cells are called platelets. (too few platelets) when administered to cancer patients following treatment with chemotherapy drugs which suppress blood cell formation in the bone marrow. There are currently no established means for optimally restoring the circulating platelet count Platelet Count Definition A platelet count is a diagnostic test that determines the number of platelets in the patient's blood. Platelets, which are also called thrombocytes, are small disk-shaped blood cells produced in the bone marrow and involved in . Platelet transfusions have been partially effective as a temporary measure to increase platelet numbers in cancer patients, but have variable efficacy and are associated with adverse side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. . Amgen is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets human therapeutics based on advanced cellular and molecular biology. Kirin Pharmaceutical Division is a Division of Kirin Brewery Co. Ltd. Kirin is Japan's foremost beer company and fourth largest in the world by sales volume. Kirin is also building a powerful presence in diverse new business areas including new pharmaceuticals based on recombinant technology. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks David Kaye, 805/447-6692 (media) Sarah H. Crampton, 805/447-1659 (investors) |
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