FDA to review potential new use of XGEVA® (Denosumab) at ODAC meeting

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has invited the Company to participate in a meeting of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) on Feb. 8, 2012 to discuss the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for XGEVA® (denosumab) to treat men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) at high risk of developing bone metastases.

The ODAC will review results from clinical studies in support of this new indication, including the pivotal ‘147 trial, a randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase 3 study that compared XGEVA to placebo in prolonging bone metastasis-free survival in men with non-metastatic CRPC who were at high risk for bone metastases based on prostate specific antigen criteria.

Amgen plans to discuss the proposed sBLA with ODAC, to support the use of XGEVA in the treatment of men with non-metastatic CRPC; a patient population for whom there are no approved treatments to delay or prevent the spread of cancer to bone.

The sBLA was submitted on June 27, 2011, and a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date has been scheduled for April 26, 2012. If approved, this will be the second indication for XGEVA in the United States (U.S.).

About XGEVA

XGEVA is the first and only RANK Ligand inhibitor approved by the FDA indicated for the prevention of skeletal-related events (SREs) in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors. XGEVA was initially approved following a six month priority review by the FDA. XGEVA is not indicated for the prevention of SREs in patients with multiple myeloma. XGEVA is the first novel bone metastases treatment for advanced cancer patients in nearly a decade. Delivered as an every four week 120 mg subcutaneous injection, XGEVA provides a unique option for urologists and oncologists to prevent SREs in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors.

XGEVA is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to RANK Ligand, a protein essential for the formation, function and survival of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone). XGEVA prevents RANK Ligand from activating its receptor, RANK, on the surface of osteoclasts, thereby decreasing bone destruction.

XGEVA has been studied in over 7,000 patients with cancer. In clinical trials, XGEVA demonstrated a clinically meaningful improvement compared to the previous standard of care in preventing bone complications. XGEVA is also being investigated for the potential use to delay the onset of bone metastasis in adjuvant breast cancer.

XGEVA Important Safety Information

XGEVA can cause severe hypocalcemia. Correct pre-existing hypocalcemia prior to XGEVA treatment. Monitor calcium levels and administer calcium, magnesium and vitamin D as necessary. Advise patients to contact a healthcare professional for symptoms of hypocalcemia.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) can occur in patients receiving XGEVA. Patients who are suspected of having or who develop ONJ while on XGEVA should receive care by a dentist or an oral surgeon. In these patients, extensive dental surgery to treat ONJ may exacerbate the condition.

The most common adverse reactions in patients receiving XGEVA were fatigue/asthenia, hypophosphatemia and nausea. The most common serious adverse reaction in patients receiving XGEVA was dyspnea. The most common adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of XGEVA were osteonecrosis and hypocalcemia. Please visit www.amgen.com or www.xgeva.com for full U.S. prescribing information.

XGEVA Regulatory Status

XGEVA has been approved in the U.S., Canada, the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Australia and Russia for the prevention of SREs in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors. XGEVA is not approved to prevent SREs in patients with multiple myeloma.

Amgen has also submitted marketing applications for XGEVA in Mexico, South Africa, Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Morocco, and Egypt. In Japan, Amgen is working with its licensing partner, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited and a marketing application was submitted. In addition, Amgen and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have a collaboration agreement for the commercialization of XGEVA in a number of countries where Amgen does not currently have a commercial presence. In these countries, marketing applications are filed by GSK.

Bone Metastases and SREs: Prevalence and Impact

Bone metastases occur in more than 1.5 million patients with cancer worldwide and are most commonly associated with cancers of the prostate, lung, and breast, with incidence rates as high as 90 percent of patients with metastatic disease. [i] [ii] [iii] [iv]

Approximately 50-70 percent of cancer patients with bone metastases will experience debilitating SREs.[v] [vi] [vii] Events considered to be SREs include fractures, spinal cord compression, and severe bone pain that may require surgery or radiation. [viii] Such events can profoundly disrupt a patient’s life and can cause disability and pain. [ix] [x] [xi]

Denosumab and Amgen’s Research in Bone Biology

The denosumab development program demonstrates Amgen’s commitment to researching and delivering pioneering medicines to patients with unmet medical needs. Amgen is studying denosumab in numerous tumor types across the spectrum of cancer-related bone diseases. Over 11,000 patients have been enrolled in the denosumab oncology clinical trials. In addition to the prevention of SREs, XGEVA is also being evaluated for its potential to delay bone metastases in adjuvant breast cancer.

Reference

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[ii] Petrylak DP, Tangen CM, Hussain MH, Lara PN, Jones JA, Taplin ME, et al. Docetaxel and estramustine compared with mitoxantrone and prednisone for advanced refractory prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(15):1513-1520.

[iii] Prostate cancer clinical trial end points: ”RECIST”ing a step backwards. American Association for Cancer Research website. clincancerres.aacrjournals.org. Accessed on February 16, 2011.

[iv] Coleman RE. Skeletal complications of malignancy. Cancer. 1997; 80(suppl): 1588-1594.

[v] Lipton A, Theriault RL, Hortobagyi GN. Pamidronate prevents skeletal complications and is effective palliative treatment in women with breast carcinoma and osteolytic bone metastases. Cancer. 2000;88:1082-1090.

[vi] Saad F, Lipton A, Cook R, Chen YM, Smith M, Coleman R. Pathologic fractures correlated with reduced survival in patients with malignant bone disease. Cancer. 2007;110:1860-1867.

[vii] Rosen LS, Gordon D, Tchekmedyian NS, et al. Nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and other solid tumors. Cancer. 2004;100:2613-2621.

[viii] Costa L, Badia X, Chow E, Lipton A, Wardley A. Impact of skeletal complications on patients’ quality of life, mobility, and functional independence. Support Care Cancer. 2008; 16: 879-889.

[ix] Norgaard M, Jensen AO, Jacobsen JB, Cetin K, Fryzek JP, Sorensen HT. Skeletal related events, bone metastasis and survival of prostate cancer: a population based cohort study in Denmark (1999 to 2007).J Urol. 2010; 184:162-167.

[x] Johnell O, Kanis JA. An estimate of the worldwide prevalence and disability associated with osteoporotic fractures. Osteoporos In.t 2006;17:17261733.

[xi] Saad F, Gleason DM, Murray R, et al. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Zoledronic Acid in Patients With Hormone-Refractory MetastaticProstate Carcinoma. Journal Ntl Cancer Inst. 2002;19:1458-1468.