Amgen Licenses MS Drug to French Firm

Amgen Inc. of Thousand Oaks said it licensed the multiple sclerosis drug Novantrone to French drug maker Serono for sale in the United States. Terms weren’t disclosed.

Amgen said Novantrone, which it acquired as part of its $9.6-billion purchase of Immunex Corp., had sales of $71 million in 2001.

Amgen doesn’t market any other drugs for multiple sclerosis, but Serono this year won Food and Drug Administration approval to sell Rebif, its brand of interferon, to people with the disease. Immunex marketing partner Wyeth will continue to sell Novantrone outside the United States.