New Survey Highlights Growing Concern About Risk of Infection in Cancer Patients...

New Survey Highlights Growing Concern About Risk of Infection in Cancer
Patients and Emerging Antibiotic Resistance

Amgen, CDC Foundation and CDC Partner to Launch Three-Year Initiative to
Improve Infection Control in Vulnerable Cancer Patient Population

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN)
today announced the results of a national Harris Interactive, Inc. survey
indicating that the vast majority of oncologists and infectious disease (ID)
specialists are highly concerned about the negative impact infection may have
on treatment outcomes in chemotherapy patients, as well as emerging antibiotic
resistance. Nearly all oncologists surveyed (92 percent) believe it is
important for cancer patients to prevent infections to achieve successful
treatment outcomes. Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern among the
majority of physicians surveyed, with 96 percent of ID specialists and 79
percent of oncologists reporting an increase in antibiotic-resistant
infections in cancer patients over the past five years. Both groups of
physicians report methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
infections as the most commonly observed in chemotherapy patients.

Cancer patients are at a higher risk for infection due to a compromised immune
system caused by both the cancer and chemotherapy treatment. Neutropenia, a
low white blood cell count, is a common and potentially dangerous side effect
in patients receiving strong chemotherapy. It can lead to a heightened risk of
infection that can require hospitalization and be life-threatening. Each year,
60,000 cancer patients are hospitalized for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia,
and a patient dies every two hours from this complication. Neutropenia also
can potentially disrupt chemotherapy treatment, including both dose delays and
dose reductions. Studies show that for certain types of cancer, chemotherapy
produces the best long-term results when patients receive the full dose on
schedule.

"The survey findings show that one in four chemotherapy patients report having
an infection during treatment, with more than a third requiring a second
course of antibiotics," said Sean Harper, M.D., chief medical officer and head
of Global Development at Amgen. "Infections associated with cancer treatment
are increasing and are often serious, highlighting the need for a program to
improve infection control and appropriate antibiotic management in these
high-risk patients."

To help raise awareness of the risks and impact of infections in cancer
patients, Amgen is joining forces with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Foundation, and the Divisions of Healthcare Quality and Promotion and Cancer
Prevention and Control at CDC on a three-year initiative to provide resources
and educational tools to help cancer patients, their caregivers and healthcare
professionals.

The initiative includes the development of evidence-based curricula for
healthcare providers on infection control for cancer patients and appropriate
antibiotic stewardship, and an interactive online education tool for patients
on what to expect from treatment, as well as how to prevent and manage
infection during treatment.

"Programs to improve infection control in cancer patients, whose immune
systems may be compromised by chemotherapy, will aid in saving the lives of
these high-risk patients," said Charles Stokes, president and CEO of the CDC
Foundation. "This initiative will bring together experts in oncology and
infectious disease to raise awareness of this public health concern, and
reduce the risk of infections, and ultimately, related deaths."

Survey Result Highlights:

Infections among chemotherapy patients are fairly common.
-- Nearly one in four patients surveyed (24 percent) had an infection in
the last 12 months while receiving chemotherapy treatment. Of these
patients:
-- 61 percent had more than one infection;
-- virtually all took at least a week to recover;
-- 22 percent reported taking four or more weeks to recover;
-- 52 percent had to go the emergency room due to an infection;
-- 42 percent were hospitalized, spending on average nine days in the
hospital; and
-- 43 percent experienced chemotherapy treatment interruption.
-- ID specialists report seeing an average of 36 chemotherapy patients
with
an infection in a typical month.

-- 57 percent of ID specialists and 28 percent of oncologists have
observed
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections as the
most common infection in chemotherapy patients.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern.
-- Nearly all ID specialists (91 percent) report being very or extremely
concerned about emerging antibiotic resistance in cancer patients.
-- More than half of all patients (51 percent) are extremely or very
concerned about antibiotic resistance.

-- The issue of antibiotic resistance is the least likely to be discussed
between physicians and patients, with 26 percent of oncologists (or
nurses in their practice) discussing the issue before a cancer patient
starts chemotherapy.

Oncologists believe antibiotics are overused in preventing infections.
-- 58 percent of oncologists believe antibiotics are overused in an
effort
to prevent infections in chemotherapy patients.
-- Approximately half of ID specialists and oncologists surveyed said
that
antibiotics are effective at minimizing the risk of infection.

-- There is general consensus among both ID specialists and oncologists
(7
in 10) that washing hands frequently, avoiding sick people and using
proper food handling techniques are effective strategies in minimizing
a
chemotherapy patient's risk for infection.

Physicians are concerned about the impact of infections in cancer patients.
-- 87 percent of ID specialists are extremely or very concerned about the
impact of infections on overall outcomes for chemotherapy patients,
including overall survival and disease-free survival.
-- Nearly half of cancer patients are not even aware that chemotherapy
puts
them at greater risk for an infection, and significant minorities of
patients do not realize that an infection may in fact negatively
impact
the outcomes of their chemotherapy treatment.
-- 36 percent disagree or strongly disagree that their chances for
successful cancer treatment could be lower due to a dose reduction
and/or delay in their chemotherapy schedule;
-- one out of four patients believes it doesn't matter if they
have to take a break from their chemotherapy schedule, because
they
can just start back up again later; and
-- almost one-quarter of patients (22 percent) believe it doesn't
matter if their doctor lowers the dose of chemotherapy treatment,
because the doctor can always increase the dose later without any
effect on overall treatment.

Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc. an independent market
research and polling organization, with support from Amgen Inc. The survey
included 430 interviews with cancer patients who are currently undergoing
chemotherapy or who have undergone chemotherapy in the past 12 months, 150
oncologists and 151 infectious disease specialists. Data was collected from
March 20, 2009 through April 15, 2009.

Methodology: Oncologists and Infectious Disease Specialists
Physician samples were drawn at random from the AMA master file of oncologists
and infectious disease specialists. The AMA list was then matched to the
Harris Interactive Online Physician Panel (HIPP) by ME number. Oncologists and
infectious disease specialists on the AMA list who matched the HIPP were then
included in the sampling frame and recruited to participate via e-mail
invitation. Specialists in the AMA random draw who were not members of the
HIPP were invited to participate via first-class mail. All e-mail and
first-class mail invitations included a URL and password for one-time use to
allow participants to log on to the Internet and participate in the survey
research.

Methodology: Patients
Patients who were currently undergoing chemotherapy or had completed
chemotherapy within the past year were recruited using the Harris Interactive
Chronic Illness Panel (CIP). Patients were recruited to participate via e-mail
invitation, which included a URL and password for one-time use to allow
participants to log on to the Internet and participate in the survey research.

About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human
therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first
companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective
medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics
have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the
world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and
other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new
medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically
improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our
vital medicines, visit www.Amgen.com.

Contacts:
Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA
Ashleigh Koss, (805) 313-6151 (media)
Arvind Sood, (805) 447-1060 (investors)

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SOURCE Amgen

media, Ashleigh Koss, +1-805-313-6151, or investors, Arvind Sood,
+1-805-447-1060, both of Amgen