HARTFORD, Conn., April 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Schatz Nobel Izard, P.C., which has significant experience representing investors in prosecuting claims of securities fraud, announces that a lawsuit seeking class action status has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the publicly traded securities of Amgen, Inc. ("Amgen" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:AMGN) between May 4, 2005 and March 9, 2007, inclusive, (the "Class Period").
The Complaint alleges that Amgen, a biotechnology company that makes and sells Epogen and Aranesp, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, a type of drug which encourages the creation of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, violated Federal Securities laws. Specifically, it is alleged that defendants marketed Aranesp and Epogen to doctors for off-label uses. As a result, Amgen sold several hundred million dollars worth of drugs each year for these off-label uses. In October 2006, a group of researchers halted a clinical study of head and neck cancer patients treated with Aranesp because more deaths occurred in patients taking Aranesp than in those taking a placebo. Defendants did not disclose these results to investors. On February 16, 2007, a publication called The Cancer Letter published an article about the results of the study and on March 9, 2007, the FDA mandated a "black box" warning regarding the off-label use of Aranesp and Epogen. These revelations caused Amgen's stock price to decline.
If you are a member of the class, you may, no later than June 18, 2007, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the class. A lead plaintiff is a class member that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Although your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision whether or not to seek appointment as a lead plaintiff, lead plaintiffs make important decisions which could affect the overall recovery for class members, including decisions concerning settlement. The securities laws require the Court to consider the class member(s) with the largest financial interest as presumptively the most adequate lead plaintiff(s).
While Schatz Nobel Izard, P.C. has not filed a lawsuit against the defendants, to view a copy of the Complaint initiating the class action or for more information about the case, class action cases in general, and your rights, please contact Schatz Nobel Izard, P.C. toll-free at (800) 797-5499, or by e-mail at firm@snlaw.net, or visit our website: www.snilaw.com.