Amgen, Inc. (AMGN): What’s Its Next Catalyst?

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According to an abstract posted at Forbes, Amgen’s PCSK9 inhibitor was able to help some patients with a rare genetic disease that causes extremely high levels of cholesterol. For some patients, the drug, dubbed AMG 145, seems to work as well as Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEGR)‘s Juxtapid or Kynamro from Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISIS) and Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY), without the side effects. In addition to taking some sales from Juxtapid and Kynamro, AMG145 looks poised to treat patients with less severe cholesterol problems given the clean side effect profile.

Which way next?
The growth of Xgeva and Prolia is quite promising. The drugs are still minor players, but as they get larger, they’ll have a greater influence on the overall revenue number.

The next major move for Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) stock might come from the pipeline, which is a little less predictable. Amgen has six new drugs in phase 3 development and is trying to expand quite a few current drugs into additional indications.

The article What News Will Drive Amgen Stock Next? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Brian Orelli has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson.

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