THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2005--Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq:AMGN), the world´s largest biotechnology company, today announced a significant increase in its funding to foundation-sponsored patient assistance programs for 2005. These programs are designed to ensure access for patients with cancer or kidney disease who cannot afford the co-payments for prescription drug therapies critical to their overall treatment. Amgen is increasing the level of this patient assistance to an unprecedented $18 million in 2005.

"Ensuring that patients have access to innovative therapies is part of Amgen´s commitment to helping patients facing serious illness live better and longer lives," said George Morrow, executive vice president, global commercial operations at Amgen.

With the $18 million, Amgen is providing grants to several independent non-profit charitable foundations to assist patients in 2005. Each foundation will assess patients´ eligibility to receive co-payment assistance based upon their own independent objective eligibility criteria.

Providers and patients interested in determining what financial assistance programs may be available should call Amgen´s Reimbursement Connection(R) at 1-800-272-9376. The Reimbursement Connection has an extensive database of potential resources available to assist patients who are uninsured, underinsured or need assistance in paying their co-pays, including referral to independent patient assistance programs.

About Amgen

Amgen is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets important human therapeutics based on advances in cellular and molecular biology.

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CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Andrea Rothschild, 805-447-4587 (media) Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors) SOURCE: Amgen