Global economic conditions may negatively affect us and may magnify certain risks that affect our business.
Our operations and performance have been affected, and may continue to be affected, by uncertain global economic conditions, including those arising from geopolitical and trade policy tensions and market volatility. In addition, fiscal and budgetary pressures in the United States and other jurisdictions, including uncertainty around, or reprioritization of, government funding and constrained government resources, may disrupt government operations and regulatory activities and increase pressure on healthcare budgets and reimbursement policies. See Our sales depend on coverage and reimbursement from government and commercial third-party payers, and pricing and reimbursement pressures have affected, and are likely to continue to affect, our profitability. As a result of global economic conditions, some third-party payers may delay or be unable to satisfy their reimbursement obligations. Job losses or other economic hardships (including inflation) may also affect patients’ ability to afford healthcare as a result of increased co-pay or deductible obligations, greater cost sensitivity to existing co-pay or deductible obligations, lost healthcare insurance coverage or for other reasons. We believe such conditions have led and could continue to lead to reduced demand for our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our product sales, business and results of operations. Our operational costs, including the cost of energy, materials, labor, distribution and our other operational and facilities costs are subject to market conditions and have been adversely affected by tariffs to a limited extent. Although we monitor our distributors’, customers’ and suppliers’ financial condition and their liquidity to mitigate our business risks, some of our distributors, customers and suppliers may become insolvent, which could have a material adverse effect on our product sales, business and results of operations. A significant worsening of global economic conditions could precipitate or materially amplify the other risks described herein. On April 2, 2025, the Administration issued an executive order (the April 2025 Tariff EO) imposing a universal 10% tariff on all imported goods, with certain exceptions including pharmaceuticals. The April 2025 Tariff EO imposed additional higher tariffs on approximately 60 countries with which the United States has trade deficits. Recent and ongoing changes in U.S. trade and tariff policies, including the imposition, modification, suspension and threatened expansion of tariffs on imported goods, as well as retaliatory measures by foreign governments, have increased uncertainty in the overall business and operating environment. Although certain pharmaceutical products are exempt from some tariffs, these measures have increased, and may continue to increase, our costs, including for materials, components and supplies used in research and development and manufacturing activities, have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, our operations in various markets, and could disrupt global supply chains. On October 24, 2025, the Administration initiated, under the Trade Act of 1974, a Section 301 investigation of China’s implementation of the Economic and Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Chinese governments. This investigation, and any other 301 investigations initiated, may result in additional tariffs on imported goods from China and any other foreign markets subsequently investigated, respectively, potentially including pharmaceutical products and other goods that Amgen requires for the manufacture of our products. If subject to Section 301 tariffs, China, and other affected foreign governments, may retaliate against such tariffs by imposing tariffs of their own on U.S.-made goods. Given the many uncertainties and variables, it is currently unclear the extent, and degree, to which existing and future tariffs will disrupt and adversely affect our business activities (including product sales, and conduct of clinical trial and research and development activities), and the global economic environment, and/or amplify the other risks described herein.
We maintain a significant portfolio of investments on our consolidated balance sheets. Global capital markets have experienced, and may continue to experience, periods of volatility and disruption, including as a result of interest rate fluctuations, inflation, liquidity conditions, credit market stress and geopolitical events. Certain of our assets, including equity investments, are exposed to market fluctuations that, in a sustained or recurrent series of market disruptions, could result in impairments or losses on sale. The value of our investments may also be adversely affected by interest rate fluctuations, inflation, downgrades in credit ratings, illiquidity in the capital markets, geopolitical events and other factors that may result in other-than-temporary declines in the value of our investments. Any of those events could cause us to record impairment charges with respect to our investment portfolio or to realize losses on sales of investments. We also maintain a majority of our cash and cash equivalents in accounts with major multi-national financial institutions, and our deposits at these institutions exceed insured limits. Market conditions can adversely affect the viability of these institutions. In the event of failure of any of the financial institutions where we maintain our cash and cash equivalents, there can be no assurance that we would be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all. Inability to access, or a delay in accessing these funds, could adversely affect our business and financial position.
Our stock price is volatile.
Our stock price, like that of our peers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, is volatile. Our revenues and operating results may fluctuate from period to period for a number of reasons. Events such as a delay in product development, changes to our expectations or strategy or even a relatively small revenue shortfall may cause financial results for a period to be below our expectations or projections. As a result, our revenues and operating results and, in turn, our stock price may be subject to significant fluctuations. Announcements or discussions, including via social media channels, of possible restrictive actions by government or private payers that would negatively affect our business or industry if ultimately enacted or adopted may also cause our stock price to fluctuate, whether or not such restrictive actions ever actually occur. Similarly, actual or perceived safety issues with our products or similar products or unexpected clinical trial results can have an immediate and rapid effect on our stock price, whether or not our operating results are materially affected.