Amgen CEO admits 'headwind'

Kevin Sharer, who has not seemed very concerned about studies raising safety concerns of Amgen drugs, is suddenly sounding a bit concerned. Speaking on a conference call this morning with clients of Goldman Sachs, Sharer said that some physicians have modified their use of the anti-anemia drug Aranesp, given recent studies about negative effects in some patients. "There is no doubt that the totality of what's going on now is giving us headwind in this business," Sharer said. He expects the FDA to change the product label for Aranesp and other anti-anemia drugs to warn about additional risks. The label change and the studies could impact Aranesp sales. Complicating things for the Thousand Oaks-based biotech company is that the SEC, as part of an informal inquiry, is seeking information related to a Danish study of Aranesp. Amgen is down over 3 percent this morning. DJ Marketwatch