Amgen Shares Climb on Landmark Repatha Trial Data
Phase 3 study shows the cholesterol drug cut the risk of first-time major cardiovascular events by 25%, bolstering its market position.
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) shares advanced on Tuesday after the biotechnology giant presented positive results from a landmark clinical trial for its cholesterol-lowering drug, Repatha. The data, unveiled at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2025 Scientific Sessions, demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of first-time heart attacks and strokes in high-risk patients.
Shares of Amgen climbed 1.46% to $339.17 in afternoon trading, pushing its market capitalization to over $181 billion. The gains came after the company announced detailed results from its Phase 3 VESALIUS-CV trial, which showed Repatha (evolocumab) reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 25% in adults who had not previously suffered a heart attack or stroke. The findings, which were simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine, add a crucial preventative dimension to the drug's profile.
The study highlighted a 36% relative risk reduction in heart attacks alone, providing compelling evidence for the drug's use in primary prevention—a potentially vast market of patients with high cholesterol who are at risk of a first cardiovascular event. This data reinforces Amgen’s strategy to position Repatha as a cornerstone therapy in cardiovascular risk management.
"These results represent a significant milestone for patients and for Amgen," a company spokesperson noted in a statement. "By demonstrating a clear benefit in preventing a first cardiovascular event, we are moving beyond treatment to proactive prevention."
Further bolstering the clinical trial data, Amgen also presented new real-world evidence at the AHA conference. The REPATHA-CE study, a comparative evaluation involving over 110,000 patients, showed that treatment with Repatha was associated with a 20% lower risk of a composite of MACE at four years compared to those not receiving the therapy. This real-world data is critical for supporting physician adoption and securing favorable reimbursement terms from insurers.
The positive clinical news follows a recent regulatory success for the drug. In August 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded Repatha's label to include adults at an increased risk for MACE due to uncontrolled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Amgen has stated it intends to submit the new VESALIUS-CV data to regulators to further broaden the drug's approved uses.
Amgen, a Dow Jones Industrial Average component, is focused on expanding its cardiometabolic franchise to compete in a crowded market that includes major pharmaceutical players. Repatha is a key growth driver for the company, and the continued stream of positive data is central to its strategy of establishing the drug as a standard of care.
Analysts have a consensus price target of approximately $319 on Amgen stock, which the recent rally has surpassed. The stock has traded between $245.31 and $343.39 over the past 52 weeks, with the latest news pushing it toward the upper end of its range. Wall Street sentiment is cautiously optimistic, with 13 analysts rating the stock a 'Buy' or 'Strong Buy' and 15 recommending a 'Hold', according to market data.