Biotechnology - Genomic and Proteomics/IP Profile of Biggest for-profit companies in BGP/BGP Company Profiles - Data

Amgen

Who

• 16,900 employees (2008 Corporate report)
• History of acquisition (http://www.amgen.com/about/acquisitions.html):
  • 1994 - Synergen, Inc.
  • 2000 - Kinetix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • 2002 - Immunex Corporation
  • 2004 - Tularik, Inc.
  • 2006 - Abgenix, Inc.
  • 2006 - Avidia, Inc.
  • 2007 - Ilypsa, Inc.
  • 2007 - Alantos Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
• Subsidiaries (http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Amgen-Inc-Company-History.html):
  • Amgen Australia Pty Ltd.;
  • Amgen N.V.; Amgen Canada Inc.;
  • Amgen Greater China Ltd.;
  • Amgen GmbH (Germany);
  • Amgen S.A. (France);
  • Amgen S.p.A. (Italy);
  • Amgen K.K. (Japan);
  • Amgen B.V. (Netherlands);
  • Amgen-Biofarmaceutica (Portugal);
  • Amgen S.A. (Spain);
  • Amgen (Europe) AG (Switzerland);
  • Kirin-Amgen, Inc. (Switzerland);
  • Amgen Limited (U.K.);
  • Amgen Sales Corporation (West Indies).
• Unlike many biotech companies, has been consistently profitable. Net profit in 2006 was US$2.9Billion (http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/companyprofile.asp?guid=8632C7AC-1633-4198-8551-BB79570C668D)
• Managed to turn itself from a drug research company into a pharmaceutical company while maintaining steady sales - extremely rare in the industry (http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Amgen-Inc-Company-History.html)
  • Founded in 1980. By 1986 was starting to turn a profit, but did so not through drug development but through research partnerships with established pharma firms
  • 1987, develop erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell creation. Sold the marketing rights to Johnson&Johnson
  • Epogen proves to hugely popular - over $250m in sales in 1991 alone
  • Between 1992 and 1996, Amgen's R&D budget goes from $182 million to $663 million

What

• ten approved drugs for 15 conditions, 23 agents are being tested earlier in the approval pipeline
  • drugs include: Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret, Neulasta, Neupogen, Sensipar / Mimpara and Nplate
• As a side-result of this research, also publishes in academic journals (e.g. http://en.scientificcommons.org/40666678)

Where

• Thousand Oaks, CA

Commons-Based, Peer-Production, and Open Access News

• Amgen - marketing and R&D collaborations with (Powell pp. 72): ARRIS, Envirogen, Glycomex, Guilford, Interneuron, Regeneron, and Zynaxis. these companies develop the product that Amgen later produces and markets. Perhaps there are instances of commons-like sharing here. Further investigation needed
• Seems to be engaging in some instances of open-ended research with universities. e.g., collaboration with MIT's Whitehead institute (http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Axys+-+Amgen+Collaboration+Determines+the+X-Ray+Crystal+Structure+of...-a053047665)
  • Further instances of academic collaboration here: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Pressreleases/PressRelease.aspx?PageID=201
  • The results of some scientific collaborations are being released into the commons: http://en.scientificcommons.org/40666678
• Says its committed to sharing clinical testing results as soon as possible (http://switch.atdmt.com/action/deicrm_N53107Policy_6)

Genentech

Who

• 11,000 employees ("Genentech," Wikipedia)
• Owned by Swiss pharma company Hoffman - La Roche ("Hoffman-La Rouche," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoffmann-La_Roche)

What

• synthetic human insulin - their first famous product, many others produced using the Boyer-Cohen rDNA process
• along with data, has produced narratives: http://en.scientificcommons.org/genentech_inc

Where

• South San Francisco

Commons-Based, Peer-Production, and Open Access News

• Hoffman-La Rouche is engaging in academic collaboration to study the safety of InnoMed PredTox ("Hoffman-La Rouche," Wikipedia)
• In general, this seems to be a company that encourages its scientists to publish: http://www.gene.com/gene/research/researchvision.html
  • Selected papers: http://en.scientificcommons.org/genentech_inc
  • video of Genentechs Joe McCracken explaining incentives to publish (http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=1614)
• Has four-year post-doctoral program (http://www.gene.com/gene/research/researchvision.html)
  • Also has additional clinical trial program (http://www.gene.com/gene/pipeline/fellowship/)
• supplies reagents for other research organizations' work: http://www.gene.com/gene/reagents-program/reagents-program.jsp
• Seems committed to engaging relevant stake-holders in public policy issues. Worked with the American Academy of Opthamology and the American Society of Retina Specialists to develop guidelines and answer questions about Avastin (http://www.gene.com/gene/news/press-releases/press_statements/ps_122007.html)
• Has a separate board to advise the company on issues of scientific research (http://www.gene.com/gene/research/resourceboard/)
• company gives researchers 20% free time to work on projects of their own
• VP for business development says the organization survives through science, not marketing.
  • http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=1613

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