Amgen, Enzon Reach Agreement on New Drug

Amgen Inc., a biotechnology company in Thousand Oaks, reached agreement with Enzon Inc. under which Enzon will help improve a new Amgen drug that fights bacterial infection.

The Amgen drug, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), stimulates production of white blood cells, the body’s main defense against bacterial infection. The drug is expected to be of particular help to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and Amgen is seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to sell the drug under the brand name Neupogen.

Under the agreement, Amgen will incorporate an Enzon technology that would enable G-CSF to stay in the body longer. Enzon, based in South Plainfield, N.J., would receive an undisclosed payment for developing a long-lasting form of the drug, and then would be paid royalties on Amgen’s sales of that product, Amgen said.