Amgen Inc. on Thursday released results for the third quarterended Sept. 30 that showed continued strong sales of itsEpogen and Neupogen products.

Epogen erythropoietin sales totaled $112.2 million, comparedwith $73 million for the 1990 quarter. More than 100,000kidney dialysis patients in the United States are now using thedrug.

Sales of Neupogen granulocyte colony stimulating factor,which began this year, were $59.7 million, compared withsecond-quarter sales of $33.4 million. Based on hospital usage,the company estimated that Neupogen has an 85 percent shareof the CSF market in dollar terms.

Net income for the quarter was $49.4 million, or 34 cents ashare, on revenues of $178.6 million. Net income for the 1990quarter was $14.3 million, or 11 cents a share, on revenues of$78.8 million.

The company restated prior-year figures to correspond withits new fiscal year, which ends Dec. 31 rather than March 31.

Montgomery Securities analyst Brandon Fradd said the resultswere in line with expectations. "We were looking for 31 to 32cents," he said. "If you take out the $4 million gain on an after-tax basis from the sale of the diagnostic business (in Augustto Techne Corp.), they did 32 cents operationally. In particular,EPO sales are well ahead of where we expected, and G-CSF wasright in line. I would say it's an excellent quarter, and wecontinue to expect more of these."

Shares of the Thousand Oaks, Calif., company (NASDAQ:AMGN)closed down 63 cents at $62.13. -- KB

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