Amgen says two of its pipeline products are potential blockbusters in three indications.
The company is keen to reaffirm its pipeline potential in the face of a declining blockbuster anaemia portfolio.
Sales of Aranesp and Epogen have been hit by new restrictions on their use in the US and Europe, and Amgen is now looking to new drugs to replace their once rapid growth.
The company's chief executive Kevin Sharer said: "In 2001, Amgen had two blockbuster products and today we have five blockbusters on the market.
"Over the next five years we could have three more drugs achieve blockbuster status: Sensipar (cinacalcet), denosumab for osteoporosis and denosumab for cancer-related indications."
The US biotech giant has high hopes for potential first-in-class monoclonal antibody denosumab, which helps the regeneration of bones and could achieve blockbuster status in two separate indications, an analyst meeting was told.
Currently in late-stage clinical development, denosumab is the first fully human monoclonal antibody that specifically targets RANK Ligand, an essential regulator of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone).
Amgen expects to file the drug for its first indication, post-menopausal osteoporosis, by the end of 2008 or early 2009.
Amgen is considering looking for a marketing partner to maximise denosumab's value, but Sharer stressed the company would not rush into striking a deal.
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