Amgen announces 380 US job cuts

Amgen is to cut 380 R&D jobs in the US as the biotechnology company aims to streamline its operations.

Mary Klem, director of media relations at the company, said the job losses were "targeted and strategic", with no particular therapy area affected or sites to be shut down.

Jobs will go at research facilities in Thousand Oaks and San Francisco in California, as well as in Seattle and Massachusetts. Cuts are also expected in the UK.

Klem said: "We have lots of molecules moving into later stages of development, which means more expensive stages of development."

Amgen also announced former Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) senior vice president, commercial operations, Tony Hooper as the company's executive vice president, global commercial operations, effective October 26.

Hooper spent 16 years at BMS where his roles included running the BMS commercial business in North America, Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America and Europe.

He said: "It's a privilege to join Amgen, a company well-known for scientific innovation and developing life-changing therapies for people with serious illnesses."