United States-based Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) has signed a joint initiative with United States-based Direct Relief, it was reported yesterday.

According to the joint initiative, Direct Relief will distribute USD93m worth of Amgen donated cancer treatments and supportive care medicines. This donation will provide cancer patients in 18 developing countries with access to Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), NEUPOGEN (filgrastim) and Vectibix (panitumumab).

Patients will obtain the donated medicines through Direct Relief-partner hospitals and clinics in the following countries, Armenia, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Paraguay, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. The first shipments of the nearly 110,000 units of donated medicines have already reached cancer clinics in destination countries and are available to patients. Donated medicines will serve approximately 7,400 low-income patients.

Amgen and Direct Relief said that they will continue to seek opportunities to partner in the future to bring innovative biologics to patients in need.