Amgen

Amgen started in 1980 as Applied Molecular Genetics, a tiny startup in Thousand Oaks, California, with a handful of scientists betting on recombinant DNA. The name was soon shortened to Amgen, and the company went public in 1983, raising $42.3 million. Its first blockbuster, Epogen, hit the market in 1989, treating anemia by stimulating red blood cell production. Neupogen followed shortly after, boosting white blood cells in cancer patients. Those two drugs turned Amgen into a biotech giant.

Today Amgen sells roughly 40 medicines across oncology, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, bone health, and rare diseases. Its top earners include Prolia and XGEVA for bone conditions, which together generated $6.6 billion in 2025. Repatha, a PCSK9 inhibitor for high cholesterol, brought in $3.0 billion. Otezla for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis added $2.3 billion, while Enbrel for autoimmune diseases contributed $2.2 billion. The company also markets Tepezza for thyroid eye disease, Blincyto for leukemia, and Kyprolis for multiple myeloma.

Amgen's pipeline includes 44 clinical programs, with 17 in Phase III. One of its most anticipated candidates is MariTide, a monthly injectable anti-obesity drug that targets the fast-growing weight-loss market. The company employs about 28,000 people and operates in roughly 100 countries. Three U.S. drug wholesalers account for about 80% of its revenue. In 2020, Amgen joined the Dow Jones Industrial Average, reflecting its size and stability. The 2023 acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics bolstered its rare-disease portfolio. Amgen's headquarters remain in Thousand Oaks, where it all began. [edit]