HEALTH

Amgen Starts Clinical Trials: The Thousand Oaks-based biotechnology company’s shares rose $2.875 to $73.25 in Nasdaq trading after it said it will begin human trials of a key product designed to revive growth of platelets in cancer patients following chemotherapy. Amgen said the Food and Drug Administration approved the start of clinical trials on megakaryocyte growth and development factor, or MGDF, which Amgen is co-developing with Japan’s Kirin Brewery Co. MGDF triggers the growth of tiny blood cells called platelets, which promote the coagulation of blood. Amgen is the first of several firms working on development of platelet products to announce the start of human trials. Other companies involved in similar research are Genentech Inc. of South San Francisco and ZymoGenetics Inc., a unit of Denmark’s Novo-Nordisk.