Amgen, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, officially launched a new affiliate in South Korea on Tuesday, pledging to take the lead in introducing innovative treatments to local patients.

The U.S.-based biopharma giant -- best known for its blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis drug Enbrel as well as Neulasta and Neupogen, white blood cell booster drugs used after chemotherapy -- plans to launch new treatments for cancer as well as cardiovascular, rheumatic, blood and bone diseases in Korea.

Amgen Korea will serve as an important platform for the company’s global expansion as well, given a large number of patients with cancer and cardiovascular conditions -- Amgen’s central research focus -- are concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the company.
 

"Amgen is very happy to be launching a new affiliate in Korea. Equipped with a fast-developing life sciences industry and advanced biotech infrastructure, Korea holds immense market potential,” said Amgen Korea general manager Noh Sang-kyung.

“As a leader in the field of biotechnology, Amgen Korea will strive to serve our patients by expanding treatment options for health care providers and developing more advanced and effective therapeutic drugs,” Noh said.

The company said it will continue to expand its investments into conducting clinical trials in Korea, aiming to swiftly introduce Amgen’s cutting-edge treatments to local patients.

Over the last five years, Amgen has invested around 25 billion won ($22.15 million) into carrying out a total of 29 clinical trials in Korea -- of which 18 are still ongoing -- in cooperation with 171 medical institutions and some 1,200 participants across the country.

As of now, the company is awaiting domestic approval for two new drugs -- Blincyto (bilantumomab), a drug for treating a rare form of leukemia, and multiple myeloma treatment drug Kyprolis (carfilzomib) -- from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Blincyto was already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2014 and conditionally approved by the European Medicines Agency in September, following clinical evidence that the drug offers substantial improvements over existing therapies.

Meanwhile, Amgen posted around $20.1 billion in sales last year. Based in California, the firm operates branches in 75 countries as one of the largest biotech companies in the world.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)