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In this episode of Petri Dish Perspectives: Biotech Unleashed, we dive deep into the origin story of Amgen, a company that helped turn “biotechnology” from a niche lab concept into a global medical force.

We’ll trace Amgen’s unlikely beginnings in 1980, a time when gene splicing was still the stuff of scientific legend and meet the eclectic founding team: George Rathmann, the charismatic chemist-turned-executive; Winston Salser, the UCLA scientist eager to bring basic research to patients; Bill Bowes, the venture capitalist who had already bet big on Genentech; and Ray Schinazi, the young medicinal chemist destined to become an antiviral pioneer.

From its scrappy early days in Thousand Oaks to its first blockbuster drugs like Epogen and Neupogen, Amgen’s story is one of scientific daring, boardroom brinkmanship, and relentless pursuit of innovation. We’ll explore the company’s pivotal moments, the personalities who shaped its path, and how it helped define the modern biotech industry.

Whether you’re a biotech insider, a science history buff, or just curious about how life-saving drugs make it from idea to reality, this is one you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now, stay curious, and don’t forget to subscribe for new episodes every Thursday!

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