Written agreements - there must be a written agreement between each party.
Equal partnership - both sides must be prepared to move beyond being a passive donor or recipient of money to working together on practical initiatives to promote the best interests of patients.
Diversified funding - Amgen encourages external organisations to diversify their funding so that one company is not the dominant source of funding. In addition, any unsolicited requests for funding from an external organisation must go through a rigorous internal approval process.
Maintain external organisations' independence - Amgen will not attempt to oblige external groups to conform to a particular agenda in exchange for funding.
Transparency - company funding and/or sponsorship of external groups' initiatives must be made public and explicit.
Responsibility for Patient Group Relationships
Relationships with patient groups are the responsibility of Amgen's Corporate Affairs department and any unsolicited requests for support from patient groups are also considered by this department.
Transparency of Patient Group Relationships
The ABPI & IPHA Codes of Practice, self-regulatory systems for the pharmaceutical industry, require that details of pharmaceutical company funding of patient and user groups are published. Amgen publishes details on this website of all funding provided. Each activity or item of material produced as a result of a funded relationship between a patient group and Amgen will feature a prominent notice of Amgen's involvement. The only exception is where Amgen provides core funding, which the patient group uses without reference to Amgen e.g. buying office supplies, contribution to salaries, patient literature. Patient advocacy and user groups may also decide to publish details of pharmaceutical company funding. This information should make clear the nature of Amgen's involvement with patient groups.
Amgen uses the following words on the website to describe the different ways in which we work with patient groups:
"Core funding" means that Amgen is providing money to a patient group to support the human and physical resources needed to run the organisation and/or any activity that the patient group decides to carry out without reference to Amgen, which might include materials and activities.
"Sponsorship funding" refers to grants provided for specific purposes. Amgen does not have editorial input into written materials produced by patient organisations.
"Partnership funding" means that Amgen has input into the materials and/or activities.
"Consultancy fee" is where Amgen pays a patient group for services, such as reviewing materials intended for patient use.
Descriptions of Amgen's Patient Group Relationships
Amgen UK & Ireland is committed to partnering with patient groups for the benefit of patients and in a way that is true to the Industry Codes of Practice and Amgen's policy. Amgen has agreed with patient groups that it will make public the scope of our partnerships in the UK & Ireland in order to increase transparency. This includes stating the amount of funding that Amgen provides.
Breast Cancer Campaign
http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/
Breast Cancer Campaign provides support to a number of research projects related to breast cancer. Amgen is pleased to have been able to provide sponsorship of £7,170 in 2010 for a research project conducted by the University of Manchester investigating the role of older breast cancer patients in decisions about surgery.
Breast Cancer Care
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/
Breast Cancer Care provides a number of educational events for healthcare professionals involved in treatment and care of breast cancer patients. In order to support this programme in 2010, Amgen has provided £13,000 sponsorship towards Breast Cancer Care’s Nursing Network and training that the charity undertakes.
Bowel Cancer UK
http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/
Amgen is working with Bowel Cancer UK to provide support for bowel cancer patients and their families and has provided a core grant sponsorship in 2010 of £7,000 to be used to support the Bowel Cancer Advisory Service, development of a new Peer Support Service and also to fund increasing the public’s knowledge and awareness of the disease.
ITP Support Association
http://www.itpsupport.org.uk/
The ITP Support Association is a UK registered charity which aims to promote and improve the general welfare of patients, and the families of patients, with Immune (Idiopathic) Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Amgen has donated a core grant of £7,000 to help support the ITP Support Association's 2010 Patient Convention and towards the development costs associated with the Association's quarterly journal -The Platelet.
Kidney Research UK
http://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/
Founded in 1961, Kidney Research UK is the leading UK charity funding research that focuses on prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. The charity also dedicates its work to improving patient care and awareness of kidney disease. Amgen has provided core sponsorship of £1,000 for Kidney Research UK to support their activities in 2010.
Leukaemia CARE
http://www.leukaemiacare.org.uk/
Leukaemia CARE provides support for people affected by leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood disorders including providing information and material for patients and their families. In 2010 Amgen provided sponsorship of £5,000 to cover the costs of producing and printing copies of a publication, the Patient Journal.
Myeloma UK
http://www.myeloma.org.uk/
Amgen has worked with Myeloma UK for a number of years to improve the care and management of patients with multiple myeloma. To support Myeloma UK’s activities in 2010, Amgen has provided a sponsorship of £10,000 to support the development of an educational platform - the Myeloma Academy - developed for healthcare professionals involved in treating and caring for myeloma patients and their families.
National Kidney Federation
http://www.kidney.org.uk/
The NKF is the national charity in the UK - Run by Kidney Patients for Kidney Patients. The Federation's aim throughout the UK is to promote both the best renal medical practice and treatment, and the health of persons suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or Established Renal Failure (ERF). In 2010, Amgen provided £22,000 of core sponsorship towards the NKF's telephone helpline service, development of patient kidney-related leaflets and NKF website
Amgen has also provided sponsorship of £495 for the 2010 NKF Roadshow.
National Osteoporosis Society
http://www.nos.org.uk/
The National Osteoporosis Society is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Amgen has provided a membership grant of £15,000 for participation in the NOS Industry Partners Forum in 2010. In addition, Amgen provided sponsorship of £20,000 towards the 2010 NOS Fracture Liaison Service Workshops.
Prostate Action
http://www.prostateaction.org/
Prostate Action provides education for healthcare professionals involved in care and management of patients with prostate diseases including prostate cancer. In 2010, Amgen and Prostate Action identified a need for providing a masterclass for urologists covering a number of prostate diseases delivered by clinical expert in the field. Amgen provided a grant of £15,000 to cover the costs of an educational one-day masterclass for urologists in 2010.
Rarer Cancer Foundation
http://www.rarercancers.org.uk/
Amgen has been working with the Rarer Cancer Foundation for a numbers of years to improve the care and management of patients with rarer cancers. In order to support the activities by the Foundation, Amgen has provided a grant of £6,000 to the Rarer Cancer Foundation to cover membership of the Industry Reference Group for 2010.
The Patients Association
http://www.patients-association.com/
The Patients Association was set up more than 40 years ago to promote the voice of patients in healthcare. They offer patients an opportunity to share their experiences of health services and use the knowledge gained from patients to work with the NHS and other healthcare providers in improving services. They are an entirely independent organisation and do not receive any funding from the Department of Health or any other government body. In 2010 Amgen has provided a core grant of £7,500 to the Patients Association to support their activities.
