Amgen Lawsuit Information

An Amgen lawsuit could focus on alleged dangerous side effects of their drugs or patent infringement.

Amgen Overview

This company used to be called Applied Molecular Genetics, but changed the name to Amgen in 1983. AmGen has been busy over the years buying other companies such as Synergen, Kinetix Pharmaceuticals, Immunex, Tularik, Abgenix, Avidia, Iiypsa and Alantos Pharmaceuticals.

Amgen's business model revolves around new products based on advances in the fields of recombinant DNA and molecular biology. Over 10 years ago they launched two mega drugs that radically changed the landscape of the medical community.

They were the first biologically derived human therapeutics - Epogen (Epoetin alfa) and Neupogen (Filgrastim). These products have made a positive difference for thousands of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease and cancer. Unfortunately there have been Amgen lawsuits over the side effects of these drugs.

Amgen is a Fortune 500 company and their products are sold worldwide. Their product line encompasses treatments for anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine). They employ approximately 17,500 people.

Amgen Problems & Legal Issues

It looks like Amgen may have overextended itself and might be running into some problems. More than half the company's revenue is from one form of drug - Epo. The first market of choice and profit for this was renal patients; chemotherapy induced anemia also looked like a good market.

Amgen chased those markets aggressively. However, they're discovering anemia doesn't appear to be a major cause of chemotherapy side effects. In addition, clinical trials indicate patients getting standard therapy plus Epo do worse than usual, hence the reason for an Amgen lawsuit.

Enter a black box warning. Add to this mixture that the company reportedly admits it knew about this information for months but didn't talk about it. This decision is the reason the SEC is investigating them. Medicare is also looking into if they've been overcharging. Top this off with their CFO deciding to "pursue other interests."

At this point it might be that Amgen erred in expanding too fast, risking its existing business and possibly putting patients lives at risk. It also might be trying to sell Epogen/Aranesp into new oncology markets that won't make them much money. Some patients have filed Amgen lawsuits after experiencing negative side effects.

Amgen Lawsuits

In 2007 a class action lawsuit in Los Angeles, California alleged the company acted unlawfully in the off-label promotion and deceptive marketing of its drug products Epogen and Aranesp. (Both these drugs are known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, or ESA's.)

Epogen and Aranesp are approved for use with kidney and cancer patients to boost hemoglobin levels and prevent patients from needing a blood transfusion. This Amgen lawsuit was on behalf of patients who bought the drug being marketed outside the bounds of FDA approval.

In 2008 there were more developments in this case. The lawsuit further alleged that dosages beyond FDA approval were sold to anemia and dialysis patients. The Center for Medical Services won't pay for these uses and the FDA has insisted on added warnings about this.

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An anti-trust lawsuit was originally filed against Amgen in 2005. It alleged Amgen offered discounts and other incentives to oncology clinics to buy their blood cell boosting products Aranesp, Neupogen and Neulasta.

The suit stated this was an anti-competitive business practice that effectively eliminated Johnson & Johnson's Procrit from the market. Amgen settled with Johnson & Johnson for $200 million in this case.

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In 2008 in Louisiana another anti-trust suit was filed but was dropped without prejudice. The Attorney General's office, in addition to other states' Attorney Generals, is monitoring another Amgen lawsuit in New Jersey to determine if they will re-file.

The suit alleged Amgen was trying to corner the therapeutic cancer drug market by illegal pricing practices which penalized clinics for not buying large volumes of Aranesp.

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In California in 2000 a company employee filed an Amgen lawsuit alleging she was exposed to toxic mold at the Thousand Oaks facility. The suit further alleged the plaintiff was on disability for respiratory distress, sinus infection, headaches, dizziness and other allergic reactions.

Amgen is accused of fraud, battery and negligence because the company allegedly knew about the mold and failed to do anything about it.

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If you've experienced any negative side effects after taking a drug manufactured by Amgen, consider contacting a dangerous drug attorney. They will be able to advise you on filing an Amgen lawsuit.




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