Amgen's total revenue 2004-2020

Biotechnology company Amgen reported total revenues of around 25.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, increasing by approximately two billion U.S. dollars compared to the previous year. The company’s revenues have more than doubled since 2004.

The U.S. is Amgen’s largest market

Amgen focuses on the development and manufacture of human therapeutics for the treatment of serious illnesses. The company markets its products around the world, but most sales are made within the United States: more than 70 percent of the company’s revenues were generated in the country in 2019. The majority of product sales in the United States were made to three pharmaceutical wholesalers: Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, and McKesson Corporation. These wholesalers buy drugs in bulk and then sell them to their customers, which include hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.

Beware of the copycats

Amgen’s best-selling product is Enbrel, a branded drug sold in North America that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Launched in 1998, the exclusivity of the drug has come under pressure in recent years, with a growing number of companies announcing that they are developing biosimilar versions of the product. Amgen has been involved in patent litigations with two companies (Samsung Bioepis and Novartis Sandoz) seeking to market their own versions of the drug, which have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.