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Philadelphia (Sept. 15, 2006) – An experimental compound increases bone formation and bone strength in monkeys, according to new data being presented today at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

A reduction in bone formation and bone strength are major contributing factors to human bone diseases, such as osteoporosis. Recently, the protein sclerostin was discovered to play an important role in controlling bone formation and bone strength.

Chris Paszty, Ph.D., and colleagues at Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, and UCB Celltech, Slough, United Kingdom, evaluated the effects of an experimental compound on female cynomolgous monkeys between three and five years of age. The compound, which works by attaching itself to and blocking the activity of sclerostin, was administered to the monkeys as a once-monthly subcutaneous dose over a two month period.

Researchers found that short-term administration of the compound increased bone formation, bone mineral density (BMD), and vertebral bone strength.

ASBMR President-Elect Steve Goldring, M.D., notes: “The agent used in these studies represents a novel treatment strategy and could lead to a reduced risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis.”

Disclosures: 1. Employee of Amgen, Inc., 2. Shareholder with Amgen, Inc., 3. Shareholder with Human Genome Sciences, Inc., 4. Shareholder with Pfizer, Inc., 5. Shareholder with Schering-Plough Corp., 6. Shareholder with NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 7. Employee of UCB-Celltech, 8. Shareholder with UCB-Celltech, 9. Employee of Charles River Laboratories Preclinical Services

Michael S. Ominsky 1,2, Brian Stouch 1,2, George Doellgast 1,2, Jianhua Gong 1,2, Jin Cao 1,2,3, Yongming Gao 1,2,5,6, Barb Tipton 1,2, Raj Haldankar 1,2, Aaron Winters 1,2,4, Qing Chen 1,2, Kevin C. Graham 1,2, Lei Zhou 1, Michael D. Hale 1,2, Alistair James Henry 7,8, D. Lightwood 7,8, Adrian Richard Moore 7,8, A.G. Popplewell 7,8, Martyn Robinson 7,8, Fay Vlasseros 9, Jacquelin Jolette 9, Susan Y. Smith 9, Paul J. Kostenuik 1,2, William Scott Simonet 1,2, David L Lacy 1, Chris Paszty 1,2

To obtain a copy of the scientific abstract, contact Stephanie West (contact information above).

The ASBMR Annual Meeting is the pre-eminent scientific meeting on bone and mineral metabolism. More than 5,000 delegates are expected to attend the September 15-19 meeting, where nearly 1,800 scientific abstracts are presented. The ASBMR is the premier professional, scientific and medical society established to promote excellence in bone and mineral research and to facilitate the translation of that research into clinical practice. The ASBMR has a membership of nearly 4,000 physicians, basic research scientists, and clinical investigators. To learn more about the Society and the field of bone and mineral research, visit the ASBMR website at www.asbmr.org.

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The ASBMR is the foremost professional, scientific and medical society for the promotion of bone and mineral research and the translation of that research into clinical practice. To learn more, visit the ASBMR website at www.asbmr.org.

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