Prime Minister Tony Blair Opens Major Amgen (AMGN) (Jobs) Development Center in London; 300 New Jobs

Amgen in the UK...

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced today that the Prime Minister Rt Hon Tony Blair MP opened Amgen's new European Development Centre in Uxbridge, London. The centre can accommodate more than 300 new staff and forms a key part of a significant Research & Development (R&D) investment in the UK by Amgen.

Amgen's biotechnology medicines have already improved the lives of millions of patients worldwide suffering from cancer, kidney disease and other serious illnesses. As of the end of 2006, nearly 41,000 patients in 39 countries were enrolled in Amgen clinical trials. Uxbridge, together with Amgen's expanded Cambridge, UK facilities, will support the company's largest ever international clinical trial programme. In 2007, Amgen expects that approximately 55,000 patients will be enrolled in more than 250 clinical studies worldwide. More than half of those studies will be coordinated by UK-based R&D staff across 31 European countries.

Commenting on his opening of the European Development Centre in Uxbridge, the Prime Minister said, "I am delighted that Amgen has chosen to locate its European Development Centre in the UK. The UK biotech industry is second only to the United States, and we lead Europe in this sector. Amgen's decision to locate here is another strong endorsement of our economy and our first-class research base.

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