Amgen will present pivotal phase 3 data from five clinical studies evaluating evolocumab (AMG 145), an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits PCSK9, a protein that reduces the liver's ability to remove low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or "bad" cholesterol, from the blood. The results from the five phase 3 studies with evolocumab will be presented in three Featured Clinical Research and two Late-Breaking Clinical Trial sessions at the upcoming American College of Cardiology's 63rd Annual Scientific Session (ACC.14), being held March 29 - 31 in Washington, D.C.

"We are eager to share the detailed findings from our phase 3 cholesterol-lowering studies of evolocumab at ACC," said Sean E Harper, managing director executive vice president of research and development at Amgen. "The robust data from these studies in more than 4,000 patients form the basis of our global filing plan and we look forward to potentially providing a new treatment option to improve the lives of patients with high cholesterol, who have increased LDL-C levels despite existing therapies."

Among the abstracts are five oral presentations from the large and comprehensive evolocumab clinical trial programme, PROFICIO (Program to Reduce LDL-C and Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Inhibition of PCSK9 In Different Populations). Data from three phase 3 studies will be presented in a Featured Clinical Research session on Saturday, March 29, at 2 p.m. EDT and results from two phase 3 studies will be featured in a Late-Breaking Clinical Trials session on Sunday, March 30, at 8 a.m. EDT.

Evolocumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9).1 PCSK9 is a protein that targets LDL receptors for degradation and thereby reduces the liver's ability to remove LDL-C, or "bad" cholesterol, from the blood.2 Evolocumab, being developed by Amgen scientists, is designed to bind to PCSK9 and inhibit PCSK9 from binding to LDL receptors on the liver surface. In the absence of PCSK9, there are more LDL receptors on the surface of the liver to remove LDL-C from the blood.

PROFICIO, which stands for the Program to Reduce LDL-C and Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Inhibition of PCSK9 In different Populations, is a large and comprehensive clinical trial programme evaluating evolocumab in 20 clinical trials, with a combined planned enrollment of nearly 30,000 patients.

The phase 3 programme includes 14 trials to evaluate evolocumab administered every two weeks and monthly in multiple patient populations, including in combination with statins in patients with hyperlipidemia (LAPLACE-2 and YUKAWA-2); in patients with hyperlipidemia who cannot tolerate statins (GAUSS-2 and GAUSS-3); as a stand-alone treatment in patients with hyperlipidemia (MENDEL-2); in patients whose elevated cholesterol is caused by genetic disorders called heterozygous (RUTHERFORD-2 and TAUSSIG) and homozygous (TESLA and TAUSSIG) familial hypercholesterolemia; as well as the administration of evolocumab (THOMAS-1 and THOMAS-2).

Five studies in the evolocumab phase 3 programme will provide long-term safety and efficacy data. These include FOURIER (Further Cardiovascular OUtcomes Research with PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects with Elevated Risk), which will assess whether treatment with evolocumab in combination with statin therapy compared to placebo and statin therapy reduces recurrent cardiovascular events in approximately 22,500 patients with cardiovascular disease; DESCARTES (Durable Effect of PCSK9 Antibody CompARed wiTh

PlacEbo Study) in patients with hyperlipidemia at risk for cardiovascular disease; OSLER-2 (Open Label Study of Long TERm Evaluation Against LDL-C Trial-2) in patients with high cholesterol who completed any of the phase 3 studies;GLAGOV (GLobal Assessment of Plaque ReGression with a PCSK9 AntibOdy as Measured by IntraVascular Ultrasound), which will determine the effect of evolocumab on coronary atherosclerosis in approximately 950 patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation; and TAUSSIG (Trial Assessing Long Term USe of PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects with Genetic LDL Disorders), which will assess the long-term safety and efficacy of evolocumab on LDL-C in patients with severe familial hypercholesterolemia.

Amgen is dedicated to addressing important scientific questions in order to advance care and improve the lives of patients with cardiovascular disease.