Amgen (Europe) GmbH today announced that it has entered into a new
commercial collaboration with Fresenius Medical Care.
Under the agreement, Fresenius Medical Care will devote efforts to
assist Amgen in disseminating scientific information regarding the
treatment of anaemia to nephrologists and other dialysis experts,
beginning in April 2007. The new agreement runs for three years.
"Amgen views Fresenius Medical Care as the ideal partner because
they are the largest integrated provider of products and services for
dialysis patients. We share a goal of improving the quality of care
for patients with chronic kidney disease and those who are undergoing
dialysis," said Rolf Hoffmann, senior vice president, Amgen
International Commercial Operations. "Working together, we believe we
can help physicians optimise patient outcomes through the use of
innovative therapeutics and state-of-the-art, efficient dialysis
treatment methods."
About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human
therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the
first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe
and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient.
Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping
millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer,
kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses.
With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen
remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve
people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our
vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.
About Fresenius Medical Care
Fresenius Medical Care is the world's largest integrated provider
of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because
of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than
1,400,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,085 dialysis
clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and
Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to 161,433
patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's
leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines,
dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is
listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME, FME3) and the New York
Stock Exchange (FMS, FMS-p). For more information about Fresenius
Medical Care visit the Company's website at www.fmc-ag.com.
Amgen Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve
significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below
and others that can be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended Dec.
31, 2005 and in our periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Amgen
is providing this information as of the date of this news release and
does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements contained in this document as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results
may differ materially from those we project. The Company's results may
be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and
existing products domestically and internationally, sales growth of
recently launched products, difficulties or delays in manufacturing
our products and regulatory developments (domestic or foreign)
involving current and future products and manufacturing facilities. In
addition, sales of our products are affected by reimbursement policies
imposed by third party payors, including governments, private
insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by
domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare
cost containment as well as possible U.S. legislation affecting
pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement. Government regulations and
reimbursement policies may affect the development, usage and pricing
of our products. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing,
marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by
domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others
could identify side effects or manufacturing problems with our
products after they are on the market. In addition, we compete with
other companies with respect to some of our marketed products as well
as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or
identification of new product candidates cannot be guaranteed and
movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can
be no guarantee that any particular product candidate will be
successful and become a commercial product. In addition, while we
routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the
protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be
challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors. Further,
some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our
products are supplied by sole third party suppliers.
