9. Amgen - Top 15 R&D Budgets

Who: Amgen

Based: United States

2006 Pipeline Budget: $3.73 billion (€2.55)

2007 Pipeline News: 2007 was a tough year for Amgen. Along with J&J, Amgen was hammered by the anemia drug controversy, causing sales of the company's most profitable drug to plummet. Investors have questioned whether Amgen can recover, and if the world's largest biotech's glory days have passed. However, Amgen has several promising drugs in its pipeline, including denosumab, a fully-human monoclonal antibody in Phase III testing for a number of indications. Investors are also excited about AMG531, an autoimmune blood disorder drug that treats immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Phase III drugs:

> AMG 531 - Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (an autoimmune bleeding disorder)
> Darbepoetin alfa - Cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes
> Darbepoetin alfa - Anemia in heart failure
> Denosumab - Bone loss induced by hormone ablation therapy for breast cancer or prostate cancer
> Denosumab - Postmenopausal osteoporosis
> Denosumab - Prevention of cancer-related bone damage
> Denosumab - Prevention of bone metastases
> Cinacalcet HCI - Cardiovascular disease in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism and chronic kidney disease undergoing maintenance dialysis
> Panitumumab - First- and second-line colorectal cancer

Full Pipeline Site: Link