Also . . .

* Amgen Inc. President Kevin Sharer, as expected, was named chief executive, succeeding Gordon Binder as head of the nation’s largest biotechnology company. Binder, 64, who is retiring, will continue as chairman and a company director until Dec. 31, when Sharer will also take on the title of chairman. The transition comes as Thousand Oaks-based Amgen is preparing to release several promising drugs.