Amgen Names David Lacey, M.D., Senior Vice President, Head of Research

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced that David Lacey, M.D., has been named senior vice president, head of Research, effective immediately. Over the past year, Lacey acted as the interim head of Research -- in addition to his role as Amgen South San Francisco site leader -- and demonstrated his ability to effectively manage Amgen’s global Research organization, encompassing the company’s Oncology/Hematology, Inflammation, Metabolic Disorders and Neuroscience therapeutic areas. "David is a seasoned executive with an impressive record of accomplishment in drug discovery and development,” said Roger Perlmutter, M.D., Ph.D., Amgen’s executive vice president, Research & Development. "I am confident that under David’s leadership, our world-class research organization will continue to be at the forefront of discovering important new medicines.” Lacey’s accomplishments include serving as Amgen’s director of Pathology where he initiated the clinical studies of KGF, which ultimately was approved as Kepivance® (palifermin), the first and only growth factor indicated to decrease the incidence and duration of severe oral mucositis in patients with hematologic cancers undergoing high-dose chemotherapy, with or without radiation, followed by bone marrow transplant. The safety and efficacy of Kepivance have not been established in patients with non-hematologic malignancies. Lacey also played a key role in the discovery of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and helped to elucidate the role of the RANK/RANK Ligand pathway in bone metabolism, which led to the development of denosumab. Denosumab is an investigational therapy for which Amgen is currently conducting clinical trials across a wide range of bone loss conditions. Lacey’s medical research career spans nearly 25 years and includes experience in academia and industry. He joined Amgen in 1994 as associate medical director in the department of Experimental Pathology. During his 13-year career at Amgen, he has held a number of roles with increasing responsibility within the Pathology, Oncology and Metabolic Disorders areas of the business. Prior to joining Amgen, Lacey served as assistant professor of Pathology at the Jewish Hospital at Washington University Medical Center, and before that was a postgraduate research associate in the University of Colorado’s Department of Pathology. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology and his medical degree from the University of Colorado, graduating with Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha honors, respectively. About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.