Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology company, has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court in Boston, Massachusetts against F. Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd., Roche Diagnostics GmbH, and Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc., seeking a declaration by the court that defendants' importation, use, sale or offer to sell a pegylated version of recombinant human erythropoietin infringe Amgen's patents.

Amgen alleges infringement of six US patents owned by Amgen that claim erythropoietin (EPO) products and pharmaceutical compositions, and processes for making EPO. Amgen seeks a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from making, importing, using, offering for sale or selling recombinant human EPO, including pegylated EPO, in the United States, states a company release.

Amgen markets a recombinant human EPO product in the United States as Epogen (Epoetin alfa) for the treatment of anaemia associated with chronic renal failure for patients on dialysis. Amgen's patent rights on erythropoietin protect Amgen's breakthrough inventions.

Epogen (Epoetin alfa) is indicated for the treatment of anaemia in patients with chronic renal failure on dialysis. Epogen is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realise the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient.