THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2006--Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN), the world´s largest biotechnology company, today announced the 19 science teachers across the United States and Puerto Rico who are this year´s recipients of the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. Each of the individuals honored have demonstrated an outstanding ability to inspire their students and produce results in science education. The program was designed to recognize teachers in the K-12 grade levels in public and private schools whose dedication to their student´s education has had a significant impact on the learning and interest of the future generation of scientists. The winners of the 15th annual Amgen Science Teaching Awards program will be honored at dinner events in their respective Amgen communities in May. The 2006 award recipients are:

California

Edwin Bell of Costa Mesa High School/Middle School in Costa Mesa, CA Anne Marie Bergen of Oakdale Joint Unified School District in Oakdale, CA Brendan Casey of Joan MacQueen Middle School in Alpine, CA Kim Castagna of Canalino School in Carpinteria, CA Tucker Hiatt of The Branson School in Ross, CA

Colorado

Dr. Thomas Bindel of Pomona High School in Arvada, CO Cynthia Jamison Gay of Steamboat Springs High School in Steamboat Springs, CO

Kentucky

Jeffrey Wright of Louisville Male Traditional High School in Louisville, KY Glenn Zwanzig Jr. of duPont Manual High School in Louisville, KY

Massachusetts

Marilyn Del Donno of The Cambridge School of Weston in Weston, MA Stacey Smiar of Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge, MA

Rhode Island

Howard Chun of Cranston High School East in Cranston, RI Jennifer Jendzejec of Washington Oak School in Coventry, RI

Washington

John Elyard of Trout Lake School of Trout Lake, WA Steven Westerside of Odle Middle School in Bellevue, WA

Puerto Rico

Laylannie Torres Gonzalez of Francisco Torres School in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico Sol Enid Leon Leon of Manuel Martin Monserrate School in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico Wanda Pena of Natividad Rodriguez Gonzalez School in Arroyo, Puerto Rico Ana Rosado Torres of Luz A. Cruz de Santana School in Humacao, Puerto Rico

Amgen established the teacher awards program to demonstrate the company´s commitment to advancing science education. Since the program´s inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded more than one million dollars to educators who have made exceptional science-teaching contributions and who have had a measurable impact on the lives of their students.

"Each of the award recipients has demonstrated their ability to assess the needs of their students, develop innovative educational techniques and inspire science learning in their students. We are grateful to their dedication to students and we are thrilled to honor them as the 2006 Amgen Science Teacher Award winners," said Phyllis Piano, vice president of Corporate Communications and Philanthropy, Amgen.

The 15 selected winners within the United States will receive the following benefits:

An unrestricted cash award of $5,000; A restricted $5,000 cash grant to the recipient´s school for the expansion or enhancement of a school science program, science resources, or the professional development of the school´s science teachers; and, Recognition at an awards banquet.

In Puerto Rico, four teachers will be honored, each receiving an unrestricted cash award of $2,500 and a restricted $2,500 cash grant.

Nominations are solicited every Fall and a panel of independent judges selects the winners based on the following criteria: creativity of teaching method; effectiveness in the classroom; motivational ability; instructional ability; and the plan for the use of grant money to improve science education resources in their schools.

For more information about this year´s winners and the program, please visit http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/aaste.html.

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 broad and deep 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.

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CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Mary Klem, 805-447-4587 (media) SOURCE: Amgen