US major Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) has released its Q4 and full-year 2022 financials. Global sales were up 3% year-on-year (YOY) to USD 26.3 billion, excluding foreign exchange impacts. In Q4, sales were relatively flat at 2%, reaching USD 6.8 billion. This performance reflects Amgen’s continued strength in key therapeutic areas and its strategic focus on innovation.
Key Product Performance
Several of Amgen’s key global products achieved double-digit growth in Q4. These include:
- KRAS-targeted lung cancer therapy Lumakras/Lumkyras (sotorasib)
- Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) treatment Nplate (romiplostim)
- Osteoporosis-linked bone loss drug Evenity (romosozumab)
- High cholesterol drug Repatha (evolocumab)
- Kidney dialysis support drug Parsabiv (etelcalcetide)
- Humira biosimilar Amgevita (adalimumab)
- Multiple myeloma drug Kyprolis (carfilzomib)
- Osteoporosis-linked bone loss drug Prolia (denosumab)
Repatha, the world’s leading proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, generated USD 333 million in Q4 sales, with 9% growth in the US and 23% in international markets. Amgen noted that ex-US sales were up 58% in volume terms, though the drug’s inclusion on China’s National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) from January 1, 2022, lowered the net selling price. Prolia was also recently added to the NRDL.
Horizon Therapeutics Acquisition
Amgen is in the process of acquiring Ireland-based firm Horizon Therapeutics for around USD 28 billion. The deal is expected to close in H1 2023 and would add several first-in-class, recently launched biologic drugs to Amgen’s portfolio. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is currently reviewing the deal in anti-monopoly terms and has requested more information from both companies.-Fineline Info & Tech
