Amgen

Blinatumomab was the first T-cell engager (2014), and is now given to children and adults with leukaemia even when in remission, because it improves survival.

The first T-cell engager to improve survival in a common solid tumour, small-cell lung cancer.

Sotorasib (Lumakras) was the first drug to hit KRAS, approved in 2021 after four decades of failure.

Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC, Imlygic) was the first approved oncolytic virus (2015), injected into melanoma skin lesions.

Anvumetostat is an experimental small-molecule drug from Amgen in phase 2 trials for non-small-cell lung cancer, aimed at PRMT5 (MTAP-deleted cancers).

Cinacalcet is a tablet that quiets overactive parathyroid tissue, approved in 2004 and labelled for the dangerous high calcium levels of parathyroid carcinoma, a rare cancer where surgery often cannot remove all the hormone-producing tissue.

Bemarituzumab is an antibody against FGFR2b, a growth receptor overproduced in about a third of stomach cancers. It improved survival early in its phase 3 trial, but the gain faded with longer follow-up.

Carfilzomib is a second-generation proteasome inhibitor with less nerve damage but more heart and blood-pressure effects.

Darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp) is a longer-acting version of erythropoietin given every one to three weeks to treat anaemia caused by chemotherapy, reducing transfusions but with the same warnings about clots and tumour growth as epoetin.

Denosumab is an injection under the skin that blocks the signal driving bone breakdown. As Xgeva it prevents fractures and other bone complications in people whose cancer has spread to bone or who have myeloma; as Prolia it treats osteoporosis, including bone loss caused by hormone therapy for breast and prostate cancer.

Epoetin alfa is a manufactured version of the kidney hormone that tells the bone marrow to make red blood cells. In cancer it treats anaemia caused by chemotherapy and reduces the need for transfusions, but it is used cautiously because it can shorten survival and cause clots.

Filgrastim (Neupogen and its biosimilars) is a daily injection that speeds the recovery of infection-fighting white cells after chemotherapy, lets doctors give chemotherapy on schedule and mobilises stem cells for transplant.

Panitumumab is a fully human EGFR antibody, the preferred first-line partner for chemotherapy in left-sided, RAS-normal bowel cancer after the PARADIGM trial.

Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) is a long-acting form of the growth factor G-CSF, given once per chemotherapy cycle to speed white cell recovery and prevent febrile neutropenia; one dose replaces about eleven daily filgrastim injections. Biosimilars have been sold since 2018 and the Onpro on-body injector delivers it automatically the day after chemotherapy; bone pain is the main side effect.

Romiplostim is a weekly injection that tells the bone marrow to make more platelets; it is approved for immune thrombocytopenia and for radiation injury, and is being tested for the low platelets that chemotherapy causes.

Xaluritamig is Amgen's T-cell engager for prostate cancer, now in two phase 3 trials, aiming to do for prostate cancer what tarlatamab did for small-cell lung cancer.