First Dedicated Virtual Community for Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) Patients Launched Today

Zug, Switzerland, June 11, 2010 (ots/PRNewswire) - Amgen (Europe) today
launched ITPvillage.com, a dedicated website bringing together
patients, healthcare professionals and those who care for people
affected by ITP, at the 15th Congress of European Hematology Congress
in Barcelona, Spain. For many patients living with ITP, it can be an
extremely isolating and lonely experience, but ITPvillage.com will
provide an online community for European healthcare professionals and
patients respectively, to share information and experiences about the
condition.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/amgen/42441/

Affecting an estimated 50,000 adult patients in the European
Union (EU)[1], ITP is a serious autoimmune disorder characterised by
low platelet counts in the blood (thrombocytopenia), which can lead
to serious bleeding events and has a devastating impact on patients'
lives. The launch of this dedicated website provides a unique portal
that is unlike anything else currently available, in terms of its
design, depth of information and the experience it offers users.

Crispin Black, a patient who has been diagnosed with ITP, said of
the condition: "ITP is a condition that can be managed, but it makes
you very anxious and the symptoms and side effects attack your
quality of life. There are things that constantly worry me, like the
risk of a potential brain haemorrhage and what would happen to me in
a car crash or any other type of accident. A forum to share these
concerns or obtain information on ITP will definitely be welcome by
patients."

ITPvillage.com will be continually updated to ensure the latest
news and information about ITP is available to those who visit the
site, and select content will be translated into several European
languages in the future. Upon entering the website, users are greeted
by a village 'concierge' who provides site navigational assistance.
The website has many unique features including:

- The Village Library which provides comprehensive background
information, publications and support relevant to living with or
managing ITP.
- The Village Cinema which presents a choice of short films for
healthcare professionals and for the general public to expand their
understanding of ITP.
- The Community Post Office allows users to post any questions they may
have about ITP to be answered by authoritative sources, as well as
providing important information about the disease.
- The ITP Village Council consists of leading consultants from Europe,
who specialise in ITP and can help provide useful information and
advice.

"Amgen are committed to improving the lives of patients, not just
in terms of the products that we develop, but also in the way we
support our patients and those who care for them," said Georg
Kreuzbauer, Medical Director International Development at Amgen
International. "With ITPvillage.com, we have developed a centralised
resource that provides information to everyone impacted by ITP. The
website content is validated by leading ITP experts from around the
globe and will be updated regularly, based on the requirements of its
users."

These are just some of the features that can be found on
ITPvillage.com - to begin your virtual journey, follow the link:
http://www.itpvillage.com

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures 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
http://www.amgen.com.

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[1] Gernsheimer T. Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Immune
Thrombocytopenic Purpura. European Journal of Haematology. 2008;
80:3-8.

ots Originaltext: Amgen (Europe) GmbH
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
CONTACT: CONTACT: Amgen, Zug, Jetinder Dedyal
+44(0)7500-704750,jdedyal@amgen.com, Nehal Patel
+44(0)7931-929-392,npatel@hillandknowlton.com