Study: Amgen Therapy Makes Platelets

Thousand Oaks-based drug maker Amgen Inc. said results from an open-label extension study indicate that long-term administration of the investigational therapy AMG-531 stimulated the production of platelet production. The study also found the therapy did not react adversely in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura, a bleeding disorder that destroys platelets. AMG-531 was developed to boost the product of platelets faster than the immune system destroys them. Meantime, drug maker GlaxoSmithKline has released studies showing similar results from its experimental blood-clotting drug. That could set the stage for the two companies to face off against one another in coming years over the drugs.