Amgen announces start of NESP clinical trials.THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 1997-- 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) Tuesday announced that it has initiated the first human clinical trials with Novel Erythropoiesis erythropoiesis /eryth·ro·poi·e·sis/ (-poi-e´sis) the formation of erythrocytes.erythropoiet´ic e·ryth·ro·poi·e·sis n. The formation or production of red blood cells. Stimulating Protein (NESP NESP Neuroendocrine Secretory Protein NESP Navy EHF SATCOM Program NESP Nurse Educator Scholarship Program NESP Navy EHF Satellite Program NESP National Environmental Studies Project NESP National Education Supercomputer Program ), a recombinant protein which stimulates the production of red blood cells Red blood cells Cells that carry hemoglobin (the molecule that transports oxygen) and help remove wastes from tissues throughout the body. Mentioned in: Bone Marrow Transplantation red blood cells . The clinical trials are designed to evaluate safety and efficacy of NESP for the treatment of anemia in patients with chronic renal failure chronic renal failure Chronic kidney failure Nephrology A slow decline in renal function, which may be 2º to chronic HTN, DM, CHF, SLE, or sickle cell anemia and, if extreme, leads to ESRD, mandating kidney dialysis; an abrupt decline in renal function may be . Amgen anticipates that initial clinical results will be available within a year. People with chronic renal failure do not produce sufficient amounts of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO EPO see erythropoietin. EPO Erythropoietin, see there ), a protein secreted by the functioning kidney which is responsible for red blood cell red blood cell: see blood. production. Red blood cells transport oxygen to all cells of the body. Without adequate amounts of EPO, there are too few red blood cells to deliver oxygen sufficiently throughout the body. Anemia develops, leaving chronic renal failure patients fatigued, often impairing their ability to work or perform even routine tasks. "NESP represents an important milestone in Amgen's efforts to develop novel, superior protein therapeutics. We hope that through this scientific advance, we will be able to provide patients suffering from chronic renal failure with a new, superior treatment option," said Gordon Binder, Amgen's chairman and chief executive officer. In July 1996, Amgen announced that it entered into an agreement with Kirin to jointly develop and market NESP. Amgen has transferred exclusive, NESP worldwide rights to Kirin-Amgen, its joint venture company. Concurrently, Kirin-Amgen will license NESP to Kirin for Asia and to Amgen for North and South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Amgen is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets human therapeutics based on advances in cellular and molecular biology. -0- EDITOR'S NOTE: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with clinical development, regulatory approvals, product commercialization and other risks described from time to time in the SEC reports filed by Amgen, including the most recently filed Form 10-Q. An electronic version of this news release may be accessed via our Web site at www.Amgen.com. Visit the Corporate Center and click on Amgen News. Journalists and media representatives may sign up to receive all news releases electronically at time of announcement by filling out a short form in the Amgen News section of the Web site. Issued at 6:15 a.m. PST PST Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, see there CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks David Kaye, 805/447-6692 (media) Denise Powell, 805/447-4346 (investors) |
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