Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology company and Dompe Biotec, S.p.A., its co-marketing partner in Italy, announced that they have agreed to combine their current commercial operations with respect to Amgen products under a single company to be called Amgen-Dompe S.p.A.

Based in Milan, Amgen-Dompe will be organised as an Amgen affiliate and comprise current Amgen and Dompe staff plus current Amgen R&D staff in Italy, said a company press release.

The president of Amgen-Dompe will be Eugenio Aringhieri, who is currently president and chief executive officer of Dompe Biotec, while Marco Renoldi, currently managing director of Amgen Italy, will serve as its managing director. The Board will be made up of four Amgen members and three Dompe members.

"This new arrangement will make our operations in Italy stronger and better organised to achieve sustained long-term growth and continued commitment to excellence in service to patients," said Rolf Hoffmann, senior vice president, Amgen International Commercial Operations.

"With a legacy of 16 years of successful relations, we are embarking on a new era that will combine both companies' knowledge and expertise to underpin a firm business future for the benefit of our customers and our patients," said Sergio Dompe, president, Dompe Farmaceutici -- Dompe Biotec Holding Company - who will have a seat on the Board of Directors of Amgen International AG, a subsidiary of Amgen International, Inc.

Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen helps millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses.

Dompe Biotec, a Dompe eGroup company, was established in 1988 and specializes in the marketing of biotech drugs with a high therapeutic profile in the oncological, haematological and nephrological areas. These drugs have specialized uses and are mostly employed in hospitals.