THOUSAND OAKS, CA, May 21, 2003 - Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, announced today the appointment of Dr. David R. Parkinson to the position of Vice President and Head of the Clinical Oncology Therapeutic Area. Dr. Parkinson will direct global development efforts in oncology for all of Amgen's new product candidates and new indications for marketed products. Dr. Parkinson brings to the company a wealth of experience in drug development, and an international reputation in clinical oncology, including a track record in developing new therapies in oncology.
Dr. Parkinson joins Amgen from Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation where he was most recently Global Head, Translational Development and a member of their Oncology Business Unit Executive Committee. As head of oncology clinical research and development at Novartis, Dr. Parkinson led teams that successfully registered numerous important new therapies, including Gleevec™, the first successful protein kinase inhibitor, and Zometa®, a bisphosphonate indicated for the treatment of bone metastases.
A native of Canada, Dr. Parkinson received his M.D. degree from the University of Toronto. He pursued clinical training at the Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, and at the New England Medical Center, where he was also an Assistant Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, and an attending physician in hematology/oncology. After two years at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Parkinson joined the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) at the National Cancer Institute, where he also served as a member of the Biologics Evaluation Committee at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Parkinson's skills in drug evaluation brought him to the attention of Novartis, where he occupied positions of increasing responsibility since 1997. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Wiley Medal (Commissioner's Citation of Merit) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1997, and teaching awards at both Tufts University and the University of Texas.
Dr. Parkinson joins Amgen at a time when oncology research is producing treatments that greatly improve patients' lives. "Amgen's breakthrough biologics Neulasta™, Aranesp®, and NEUPOGEN® are important developments that make it easier for oncologists to treat their patients receiving chemotherapy," said Beth C. Seidenberg M.D., senior vice president of Amgen Development and chief medical officer. "Amgen is striving to expand its supportive care platform as well as develop novel and important therapeutics to treat cancer. Dr. Parkinson will be a valuable leader in that quest."
Amgen is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets important human therapeutics based on advances in cellular and molecular biology.
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