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Nature Biotechnology 26, 361–363 (1 April 2008) | doi:10.1038/nbt0408-361

Can 'double blockbuster' strengthen Amgen's backbone?

Cormac Sheridan

Amgen's first-in-class fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) denosumab, in development for osteoporosis and other bone loss indications, represents the company's best bet for offsetting falling revenue from its troubled Epogen (epoetin-α) franchise. But to reach its commercial goals, the Thousand Oaks, California–based company must prove in clinical trials that denosumab is not only efficacious, but also superior to the current osteoporosis market leader, the small molecule Fosamax (alendronate sodium) owned by Merck of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.