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AMGEN CLEARS ITS POSITION

The Firm Responds To Misleading Statements

         Right on time, Amgen (AMGN) responded to the misleading articles that filled the newspapers and webs on the use of EPOGEN® (Epoetin alfa) and Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa). After a week of exaggerations by the critics, Amgen decided to correct what it believes are misleading and inaccurate news reports regarding the use of its anti-anemia drugs.

      Amgen (AMGN) posted to its corporate web site documents intended to clarify its position on the use of EPOGEN® (Epoetin alfa) and Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa). Amgen made it clear that its mission is to serve patients and that it is committed to ensuring the highest standards of patient safety.

      Documents supporting the following statements have been posted on the company's web site www.amgen.com. under the link Amgen Responds to Reports About the Use and Safety of its Products. The documents include:

- Amgen's Response to Reports about the Use and Safety of its Products in Anemia Therapy;

- Amgen's Response to the CHOIR and CREATE Clinical Trial Data;

- Amgen's Letter to Nephrologists and

- An interview with the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Chief Medical Officer Barry Straube    that was initially published in Inside CMS.

- EPOGEN and Aranesp are effective and safe medicines when administered according to the FDA) label.

- Amgen only promotes the use of EPOGEN and Aranesp consistent with the FDA label.

- Hemoglobin maintenance is difficult and physicians are not necessarily acting inappropriately when patients' hemoglobin levels temporarily exceed the FDA label target range.

- CMS reimbursement guidelines are consistent with the FDA labeling policy and allow doctors to provide patients with the best possible care.

- Changes to current guidelines should be approached judiciously and based on the rigorous review of data and patient care.

     The company will also submit written testimony to the House Ways & Means Committee, which is scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday, Dec. 6, on safety and quality for Medicare beneficiaries with End Stage Renal Disease. That testimony will be posted to the company's web site under this link upon submission to the committee.

Will the misleading articles stop?

We hope so.

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