Amgen Announces ``My Cancer Coach'' Contest Winners at the College Hoops Classic

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced the results of a contest designed for cancer survivors to honor and thank their "cancer coach” — the spouse, family member or friend who played a crucial role in helping them with the battle through cancer treatment. The contest, supported by Amgen Oncology, in which applicants nominated their cancer coach by submitting a short essay, was announced in November of 2006 and is part of Amgen’s sponsorship of the College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. Shelly Bailey and JoAn Barnes have been selected as outstanding examples of Cancer Coaches for the support and encouragement they have offered to family members fighting this devastating disease. Shelly Bailey of Elk Grove, Calif., was nominated by her husband, William, for her strength and positive attitude which helped him through his fight with cancer. William writes, "I had a secret weapon in battlefield chemo called positive attitude, and an abundant source of it nearby, named Shelly. She taught me that in surviving cancer, what goes on between the ears has more to say about quality of life than what happens from the neck down.” A devoted and benevolent caregiver, JoAn Barnes was nominated by her daughter whom she helped fight Hodgkin’s disease. Barnes also aided her own mother through the end-stage of lung and brain cancer, another daughter who successfully battled breast cancer as well as her own husband who just recently lost his battle with advanced metastatic prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones. "JoAn Barnes is the constant, selfless caregiver that makes her a wonderful cancer coach,” Jessica Oswald writes of her mother. "She has always made us feel better just by being there and being the wonderful nurturer she is. She never chose to assist people through the terrible tribulations of cancer, but somehow it chose her and I am thankful she was there for me when cancer called.” "Amgen is proud to honor the winners of the ‘My Cancer Coach’ contest and to recognize the important role that all cancer coaches play in the lives of cancer patients,” said Cynthia Schwalm, vice president and general manager of Amgen Oncology. "An active support team that is armed with information and resources can have a lasting emotional impact on family members and friends managing their illness.” Ms. Bailey, Ms. Barnes and a guest of each will receive a trip to the College Hoops Classic Championship Round games benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer in New York City on November 16th and 17th. The Classic kicks off the 2007-2008 college basketball season and teams Amgen Oncology with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) to raise funds for the American Cancer Society (ACS). The Coaches vs. Cancer program, created by the NABC and ACS, has raised more than $25 million to support cancer patients since its inception in 1993. Amgen Oncology is supporting the fight against cancer on multiple fronts including serving as a major sponsor of the College Hoops Classic. Amgen encourages those undergoing chemotherapy and those who are helping a family member or friend through it, to learn more about the ChemoCoach™ program, a valuable resource for cancer patients and caregivers. At www.ChemoCoach.com, visitors can register to receive an educational email series, which is a free support program that delivers small doses of powerful information to help cancer patients and their caregivers better manage the chemotherapy journey. The site also acts as the gateway to additional resources and information. About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.