Amgen sees further 10-20 pct drop in Aranesp sales

LOS ANGELES, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Sales of Amgen Inc's (AMGN.O) top-selling anemia drug Aranesp are likely to fall another 10 to 20 percent before bottoming out in the first half of next year, Amgen's head of commercial operations said on Friday.

Sales of the drug fell to $30 million per week in the third quarter from around $58 million a week prior to early 2007, when data emerged showing that showing that the drug raised the risk of death for some cancer patients, said the executive, George Morrow, during a presentation to analysts.

"We do believe that once we have a bottomed out we can return to growth," he said, noting that the growth will come through higher patient numbers and price increases. (Reporting by Deena Beasley, editing by Gerald E. McCormick) ((deena.beasley@thomsonreuters.com; 1-213-955-6746; Reuters Messaging: deena.beasley.reuters.com@reuters.net))