Amgen

One of the biggest biotechnology companies in the world, specialising in human therapeutics and focusing on serious diseases such as cancer, kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

The company

Amgen is one of the biggest biotechnology companies in the world, specialising in human therapeutics and focusing on serious diseases such as cancer, kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Listed on the NASDAQ and headquartered in California, USA, Amgen employs 20,000 people in more than 30 countries worldwide. In 2002 Amgen had European facilities in Cambridge, UK and Lucerne, Switzerland.

How Think London helped

• Think London made vital contributions to Amgen’s business and location case for their European research and development centre, including identifying:
• Where the talent is based in the biotechnology sector across the south-east
• Commuter analysis using our Geographical Information System
• London biotechnology cluster information – where the biotech communities are based
• The advantages of locating in west London over other locations – e.g access to markets, travel and communications

The value of the Think London network

• Think London connected Amgen to several key organisations including:
• Uxbridge Business Park (a location option)
• The British Consulate in California (a key partner based near Amgen’s US Headquarters)
• Imperial College London (potential research partner)
• London biotechnology network (potential research partner)

Business success

Amgen established a temporary base in Uxbridge, west London in October 2004 and took possession of its nearby European Development Centre in September 2006. The new London Centre has the capacity to accommodate 320 researchers and development scientists.  

In their own words

“The Think London team supported us throughout the location selection process and in building the business case for our expansion into London. Their expertise and guidance certainly added value to our own in-house thinking.  Think London offers advice on so many levels. The team provided vital strategic guidance but also helped in other areas such as media relations. They certainly exceeded expectations.”

“Think London understands the way senior board members think. Presenting geographical data in a clear format — backed up by robust data — clinched the move to London. One area which Think London has really helped us in is raising our profile, particularly within government departments. I believe we have a higher profile as a result of Think London and that culminated in March 2007 with the opening of our facility in Uxbridge by Tony Blair.”

“I think one of the strengths of Think London has been our on-going relationship with them.  Over the past five years we’ve been working with Think London and I think that type of commitment is unusual and a real asset.  Their knowledge and experience has been extremely useful and I think if Think London does that for other companies then I would definitely recommend them.”

“London is a major worldwide scientific hub and Think London’s senior-level contacts are helping us tap into organisations that can really help grow our business."

Dr Jeremy Haigh
Amgen’s European Head of Research and Development

For more information about Amgen, please visit www.amgen.co.uk

Listen to what Amgen's Head of Commications, Nigel Thornton, has to say about working with Think London. (wmv: 10MB)