Amgen Drug MGDF Shows Promise in Human Testing

Amgen Inc. has reported encouraging results in its first human tests of a new drug called MGDF that triggers production of platelets in the blood.

If MGDF works, it is hoped that the biotechnology drug will allow doctors to treat cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who suffer from bleeding and hemorrhages because their blood platelets will not clot. Current medical treatment is to reduce chemotherapy and give patients platelet transfusions.

Amgen’s first test results, though encouraging, were conducted on only 11 patients in Australia. Amgen is also testing MGDF on patients at UCLA and at Emory University in Atlanta.

Amgen, based in Thousand Oaks, is in a race with Genentech Inc. to develop a platelet growth-factor drug.