It all started back in the spring of 1980 in Thousand Oaks, California when just a handful of people had a bold vision for what would become one of the pioneers in biotechnology—Applied Molecular Genetics, later shortened to Amgen.
They wasted no time diving into groundbreaking science, trying everything from creating organisms to extract oil from shale and accelerating the growth of chickens, to cloning luciferase (the light source for fireflies) and creating a process for producing indigo dye in E. coli.
By 1983, Amgen took its next big step with an initial public offering (IPO), and another big turning point came in 1989, when Amgen secured approval for its first medicine, which became an important therapy for patients with chronic kidney disease and cemented the company’s mission to serve patients, especially those living with serious illnesses.
Just two years later, in 1991, Amgen earned approval for an important supportive care product in oncology.
Continuing its global expansion, Amgen opened a manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico in 1993, which remains the company's largest manufacturing site to this day. By the mid-1990s, Amgen's global workforce had grown to more than 3,400 dedicated employees.
The new millennium ushered in more exciting developments. In 2002, Amgen acquired Immunex, a major move that marked Amgen's entry into inflammatory diseases. And with a commitment to get a newly acquired medicine to patients, Amgen got its manufacturing site in Rhode Island up and running in record time.
By this point Amgen's employee base had reached around 10,000 staff.
Amgen didn’t slow down. In 2010, it expanded into the general medicine therapeutic area when it received approval for a new medicine aimed at improving bone health. And by 2015, it had developed its first innovative medicine for cardiovascular disease, highlighting its versatility in addressing diverse health challenges.
The year 2023 marked yet another milestone with Amgen's biggest acquisition yet—Horizon Therapeutics—which further propelled the company into the rare disease market.
As Amgen marks its 45th anniversary in 2025, the company boasts approximately 28,000 employees, 40 some medicines, and a presence in approximately 100 countries around the world.
From a tiny startup to a global biotech giant, Amgen's journey is marked by innovation, persistence, and deep commitment to patients, staff and the communities where they live and work. Amgen continues to look ahead, serving millions of patients globally as it takes on the world's toughest diseases.
