Feds to Study Amgen Drugs

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Thursday it plans to launch a study of “off-label” uses of anemia drugs, including those developed by Thousand Oak-based Amgen Inc. The study was prompted by increased concerns about two anemia drugs developed by Amgen, Aranesp and Epogen. Research released in January found cancer patients who took anemia drugs had an increase risk of cancer. The federal study will determine whether Medicare will continue paying for the products.