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Binder Elected New BIO Chairman

WASHINGTON, D.C., --- Gordon Binder, Chairman and CEO of Amgen Inc. has been elected Chairman of the Board for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). Binder succeeds Henri Termeer, Chairman, President and CEO of Genzyme Corporation, who served as BIO's chairman for two years.

"Under Henri Termeer's guidance, BIO took a great leap forward in becoming one of the strongest advocates for medical innovation and biotechnology in Washington and around the nation," said BIO President Carl B. Feldbaum. "The election of Gordon Binder, with his deep understanding of technology and successful record in business and management, will take BIO to it's next level."

Binder has served as Chief Executive Officer of Amgen Inc. since 1988, after serving as Chief Financial Officer for six years. In July 1990, Binder was also elected as Chairman of the Board of Amgen. The world's largest independent biotechnology company, Amgen, was founded in Thousand Oaks, CA in 1980, as AMGen (Applied Molecular Genetics).

Prior to joining Amgen, Binder was employed by the System Development Corporation as Vice President of Finance and Treasurer for ten years. Binder also held various financial management positions at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI.

In addition to his involvement at Amgen and with BIO, Binder serves on the Board of Directors of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Pepperdine University, and California Institute of Technology and is the President of the American Cancer Society Foundation. He graduated from Purdue University in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He also received a master's of business administration degree in 1962 from Harvard, where he was a Baker Scholar.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) represents over 720 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, and state biotechnology centers in 47 states and more than 20 nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health care, agricultural and environmental biotechnology products.