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POSITIVE TOP-LINE RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 3 STUDY OF ROMOSOZUMAB IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH OSTEOPOROSIS


FRAME Study Met All Primary Endpoints by Reducing the Incidence of New Vertebral Fracture Through 12 and 24 Months


TOKYO (Jan. 23, 2016) - Amgen Astellas BioPharma K.K. (Headquarters, Tokyo; General Manager and Representative Director: Eiichi Takahashi, "Amgen Astellas") and Astellas Pharma Inc. (Headquarters, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka, "Astellas") today announced top-line results from the Phase 3 placebo- controlled FRActure study in postmenopausal woMen with ostEoporosis (FRAME). These data showed FRAME met the co-primary endpoints by reducing the incidence of new vertebral fracture through months 12 and 24 in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis treated with romosozumab. The study also met the secondary endpoint of reducing the incidence of clinical fractures (composite of vertebral and non- vertebral fractures) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis through 12 months. However, the secondary endpoint of reducing the incidence of non-vertebral fractures through months 12 and 24 was not met.


Results from the FRAME study showed that women receiving subcutaneous injection of romosozumab monthly experienced a statistically significant 73 percent reduction in the relative risk of a vertebral (spine) fracture through 12 months compared to those receiving placebo. The effect size persisted after both groups were transitioned to denosumab through the second year of treatment. Specifically, through month 24, romosozumab followed by denosumab reduced the relative risk of new vertebral fracture by a statistically significant 75 percent compared to placebo followed by denosumab. Additionally, patients receiving romosozumab experienced a statistically significant 36 percent reduction in the relative risk of a clinical fracture through 12 months compared to those receiving placebo.


The percentage of patients with adverse events and serious adverse events in the 12-month double-blind period and 24-month study period were balanced overall between the treatment groups. In the initial 12-month treatment period, the most commonly reported adverse events in both arms (greater than 10 percent) were arthralgia, nasopharyngitis and back pain. Injection site reactions were reported in

5.2 percent of patients in the romosozumab treatment group and 2.9 percent in the placebo group during the 12-month period. Most injection site reactions were

reported as mild in severity. Substudies evaluating hearing loss and worsening of knee osteoarthritis showed no difference between the treatment groups. There were two positively adjudicated events of osteonecrosis of the jaw in the romosozumab treatment group, one after completing romosozumab dosing and the other after completing romosozumab treatment and receiving the initial dose of denosumab. There was one positively adjudicated event of atypical femoral fracture after three months of romosozumab treatment.


FRAME is a Phase 3 multi-center, international, randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled, parallel-group study to assess the efficacy and safety of romosozumab treatment in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The study evaluated 12 months of romosozumab treatment versus placebo followed by 12 months of open- label denosumab treatment for both arms.The purpose of this study was to determine if treatment with romosozumab is effective in reducing the risk of fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis through months 12 and 24.


Further analysis of the Phase 3 FRAME study data is ongoing and will be submitted to a future medical conference and for publication.


About Romosozumab

Romosozumab is an investigational bone-forming monoclonal antibody and is not approved by any regulatory authority for the treatment of osteoporosis. It is designed to work by inhibiting the protein sclerostin, and has a dual effect on bone, both increasing bone formation and decreasing bone breakdown. Romosozumab is being studied for its potential to reduce the risk of fractures in an extensive global Phase 3 program. This program includes two large fracture trials comparing romosozumab to either placebo or active comparator in more than 10,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. In Japan, Amgen Astellas and Astellas are co-developing romosozumab.


About the FRAME study

FRAME is a multi-center, international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, defined as low bone mineral density at the total hip or femoral neck. The study evaluated the effectiveness of romosozumab treatment, compared with placebo, in reducing the risk of new vertebral fractures through 12 months. The study also further evaluated if romosozumab treatment for 12 months followed by denosumab treatment for 12 months, compared with placebo followed by denosumab treatment, was effective in reducing the risk of new vertebral fractures through 24 months. In addition, clinical fracture (a composite endpoint of symptomatic vertebral and non-vertebral fractures) risk reduction, non-vertebral fracture (fractures outside of the spine, excluding sites that are not considered osteoporotic, fractures due to high trauma or pathologic fractures) risk reduction and other endpoints were assessed at 12 and 24 months.


7,180 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either 210 mg romosozumab subcutaneous (SC) monthly (QM) or placebo SC QM for the 12-month double-blind study period. After the placebo-controlled study period, patients entered the open- label phase where all patients received 60 mg denosumab SC every six months (Q6M) for 12 months, while remaining blinded to initial treatment. An additional 12

month extension period of open-label 60 mg denosumab SC Q6M is currently ongoing.


About Amgen Astellas BioPharma K.K.

Amgen Astellas BioPharma K.K. is a Japanese company that began operations on October 1, 2013, to provide breakthrough-science-based medicines to help address unmet medical needs of patients in Japan. The company is a joint venture between Amgen, one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, and Astellas Pharma Inc., a leading Tokyo-based R&D oriented global pharmaceutical company. The joint venture will become a wholly-owned Amgen affiliate as soon as 2020. Amgen Astellas leverages the capabilities of both companies - Amgen's science and pipeline candidates coupled with Astellas' deep knowledge of Japanese patient and physician needs, long-term commercial and regulatory experience, and strong presence as a leading company in Japan - to contribute to the creation of a healthy society.


About Astellas

Astellas Pharma Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, is a company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. We focus on Urology, Oncology, Immunology, Nephrology and Neuroscience as prioritized therapeutic areas while advancing new therapeutic areas and discovery research leveraging new technologies/modalities. We are also creating new value by combining internal capabilities and external expertise in the medical/healthcare business. Astellas is on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients. For more information, please visit our website at www.astellas.com/en.


About Amgen

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.


Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.


For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.


Forward-Looking Statements - Amgen

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially

from those described. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports filed by Amgen, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of Feb. 21, 2016, and expressly disclaims any duty to update information contained in this news release.


No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those Amgen projects. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, preclinical results do not guarantee safe and effective performance of product candidates in humans. The complexity of the human body cannot be perfectly, or sometimes, even adequately modeled by computer or cell culture systems or animal models. Even when clinical trials are successful, regulatory authorities may question the sufficiency for approval of the trial endpoints Amgen has selected. In addition, the length of time that it takes for Amgen to complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval for product marketing has in the past varied and Amgen expect similar variability in the future. Amgen develops product candidates internally and through licensing collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures. Product candidates that are derived from relationships may be subject to disputes between the parties or may prove to be not as effective or as safe as Amgen may have believed at the time of entering into such relationships. Also, Amgen or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with Amgen's products after they are on the market. Amgen's business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, Amgen's business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If Amgen fails to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between Amgen and the U.S. government, Amgen could become subject to significant sanctions. Amgen performs a substantial amount of its manufacturing activities at a few key manufacturing facilities and also depends on third parties for a portion of its manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain Amgen products and its product candidate development.


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Astellas Pharma Inc. issued this content on 23 February 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 23 February 2016 08:18:18 UTC

Original Document: http://www.astellas.com/en/corporate/news/pdf/160223_En.pdf