Amgen Gets FDA Approval for New Plant

Amgen Inc. said U.S. regulators licensed its new drug-manufacturing complex in Longmont, Colo., enabling it to step up production of its top-selling anemia drug, Epogen. The Food and Drug Administration approved the plant, built on 22 acres of a 234-acre site and staffed by more than 275 employees. The 450,000-square-foot center will allow Amgen to produce three times the Epogen it makes at its plant in Thousand Oaks, where Amgen is based. U.S. sales of Epogen totaled $1.8 billion in 1999, more than half of Amgen’s total sales of $3.3 billion. Amgen plans to use the new plant to manufacture its second-generation anemia drug NESP, which is expected to win FDA approval early next year. Amgen shares fell 56 cents to close at $73.25 on Nasdaq.