Interim long-term follow-up data show AMG 531 increases platelets in patients with ITP

Results suggest once-weekly dosing of AMG 531 results in sustained platelet response

ATLANTA – (Dec. 12, 2005) – Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, today announced interim results from an open-label study showing that long-term administration (up to 48 weeks) of its investigational therapy AMG 531 was generally well-tolerated and stimulated platelet production in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Overall, 85 percent of patients in the study (29 of 34) achieved a platelet response, defined as doubling of the baseline platelet count and at least 50,000 platelets per microliter of blood. The data were presented during an oral presentation at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 47th Annual Meeting and Exposition. (Abstract #220)

ITP is characterized by an immune system malfunction that recognizes the body's own platelets as foreign and destroys them, potentially resulting in dangerously low platelet counts (less than 30,000 platelets per microliter). Platelets are specialized blood cells that help prevent and stop bleeding by participating in clotting. Normal platelet range for a person without ITP is 150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microliter. AMG 531 is being investigated as a new approach to treat ITP, and other platelet deficiencies, by directly increasing platelet production to outpace platelet destruction by the immune system.

"Traditional therapies for ITP have focused on diminishing platelet destruction by suppressing the immune system, beginning with the use of steroids, followed by surgical removal of the spleen and more intensive immunosuppression. These treatments have potentially serious side effects. For ITP patients who do not respond to these therapies, there are no effective treatment options," said James George, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City. "The long-term study results show that AMG 531 administered as an individualized weekly dose resulted in a durable platelet response. If approved, AMG 531 may provide an important therapeutic option for ITP patients, potentially enabling patients to taper off long-term steroid therapy."

Interim results were presented for 34 patients treated with AMG 531 for up to 48 weeks. Twenty-eight patients had undergone splenectomy before study entry and eight were receiving concurrent corticosteroids for ITP. Overall, 47 percent of patients (n=16) had a durable platelet response, defined as platelet response at six or more weeks between weeks 18 through 25. Of the eight patients on concurrent corticosteroids, 50 percent (n=4) discontinued corticosteroid treatment and 25 percent (n=2) had at least a 50 percent dose reduction.

"It is exciting that most patients in this study achieved platelet counts of greater than 50,000 per microliter, despite how refractory they were, from a starting count of approximately 18,000," said James B. Bussel, M.D., professor of pediatrics and medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. "This is important because it suggests that AMG 531 may stimulate platelet production faster than the immune system can destroy them, enabling patients to sustain a satisfactory platelet count with ongoing AMG 531 treatment."

In this study, AMG 531 was generally well-tolerated. The most frequently reported adverse events were headache, upper respiratory infection and fatigue. Serious adverse events reported as treatment related include bone pain (n=1); anemia (n=1); and vaginal hemorrhage (n=1). Additionally, there was one reported case of diffuse reticulin formation in the bone marrow reported as myelofibrosis. Reticulin formation is hypothesized as due to excessive accumulation of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. Follow-up bone marrow biopsies reveal that the reticulin is improving. No neutralizing antibodies have been detected to date.

About the Study
This ongoing, open-label extension study is assessing the safety and efficacy of long-term administration of AMG 531 in both pre- and post-splenectomy ITP patients. Eligible patients had completed a previous AMG 531 study in ITP and had a baseline platelet count of less than 50,000 platelets per microliter, with no recent significant change in medical history. The AMG 531 starting dose was 1 µg/kg by subcutaneous injection with dose adjustment to a maximum of 15 µg/kg. Patients were administered AMG 531 by injection once weekly unless their platelet count exceeded 400,000 platelets per microliter. Once patients reached a stable dose and schedule, physician office visits were reduced from weekly to once per month. Concurrent corticosteroid treatment could be tapered when patients' platelet counts reached 50,000 platelets per microliter. The study is available for patients completing the two ongoing Phase 3 AMG 531 studies in ITP.