Is Otezla a subsidiary?

No. Otezla is a product brand owned by Amgen Inc., acquired from Celgene in 2019.

Is Otezla publicly traded?

No. Only the parent, Amgen Inc., is traded, on Nasdaq under ticker AMGN.

When was Otezla approved?

Celgene received FDA approval for Otezla in 2014 for psoriatic arthritis. Amgen acquired it in 2019 for $13.4 billion.

What does Otezla treat?

Otezla treats plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and oral ulcers associated with Behcet's disease, taken as an oral tablet.

Otezla is wholly owned by Amgen Inc., acquired from Celgene in a regulatory-mandated divestiture during the Bristol-Myers Squibb merger.

Why was Otezla selected for Medicare pricing?

Otezla was selected for IRA Medicare price negotiation due to its high Medicare Part D spending, resulting in Amgen's $1.2 billion impairment in FY2025.

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals

Who Owns Otezla?

Otezla (apremilast) is an oral medication for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis owned by Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN), the biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Developed by Celgene and acquired by Amgen in 2019 for $13.4 billion, it is the leading oral treatment in its class. Its selection for Medicare price-setting produced a $1.2 billion Amgen impairment in FY2025.

Parent Company

Amgen Inc.

Acquired

2019

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Thousand Oaks, California, USA (parent)

Otezla Timeline

1980

Amgen Inc.

Parent company established in Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Company Founded

2014

Otezla

Founded by Celgene Corporation (original developer)

Founded

2019

Acquired by Amgen Inc.

Amgen Inc. acquired Otezla

Acquired

premiummarket leaderGlobalall-agesOfficial Website

Who Owns Otezla?

Parent Company: Amgen Inc.
Ownership Type: Acquired
Acquisition Year: 2019
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: AMGN

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Otezla	Amgen Inc.	Acquired

Where to Buy

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Otezla on Amazon

History of Otezla

Founded: 2014
Founders: Celgene Corporation (original developer)
Acquired by Amgen Inc.: 2019

Celgene developed Otezla (apremilast), a PDE4 inhibitor, and won FDA approval in 2014 for psoriatic arthritis, expanding to plaque psoriasis and Behcet's disease. It became the leading oral option in its class for patients preferring pills over injectable biologics.

The drug's differentiation was its oral delivery in a market dominated by injectable biologics: for psoriasis patients reluctant to self-inject, Otezla offered a daily pill alternative with a different mechanism and safety profile than biologic treatments.

When Bristol-Myers Squibb acquired Celgene in 2019, antitrust regulators required the divestiture of Otezla, which overlapped with BMS's own pipeline. Amgen paid $13.4 billion, the largest acquisition of a single pharmaceutical product in history at the time.

Under Amgen, Otezla continued as the leading oral psoriasis agent until its 2025 selection for Medicare price negotiation under the IRA triggered the $1.2 billion impairment, signaling the pricing headwinds affecting branded pharmaceuticals under the new law.

About Amgen Inc.

What does Amgen own?
Amgen owns the Amgen brand and product brands including Enbrel, Prolia, Otezla, Neulasta, Repatha, Tezspire, and others. The Horizon acquisition added Tepezza, Krystexxa, and Uplizna.

Is Amgen publicly traded?
Yes. Amgen trades on Nasdaq under ticker AMGN and is a component of the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Who founded Amgen?
George Rathmann founded Applied Molecular Genetics in 1980 in Thousand Oaks, California. The name Amgen derives from the original.

Where is Amgen headquartered?
Amgen is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California, USA.

Who owns Amgen?
Amgen is owned by public shareholders with no controlling investor. Robert Bradway serves as Chairman and CEO.

What is Amgen's revenue?
Amgen reported FY2025 total revenues of $36.8 billion, up 10%, with GAAP net income of $7.7 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $21.84.

What does Amgen make?
Amgen makes biologic medicines including Enbrel for rheumatoid arthritis, Prolia for osteoporosis, Otezla for psoriasis, and oncology and rare disease treatments.

Founded: 1980
Headquarters: Thousand Oaks, California, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NASDAQ: AMGN
Revenue: $36.8 billion (FY2025)
Employees: Approximately 28,000

Visit Amgen Inc. website

View full company profile for Amgen Inc.

Where Is Otezla Made / Based?

Headquarters: Thousand Oaks, California, USA (parent)
Manufacturing / Operations: United States

Otezla Categories & Tags

Pharmaceuticals Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis Amgen Healthcare

Otezla Recalls & Controversies

As a pharmaceutical product, Otezla's issues are pricing, efficacy comparisons, and regulatory.

IRA Medicare price-setting: The selection for Medicare negotiation is the defining regulatory event for the brand, producing Amgen's $1.2 billion impairment and compressing US pricing.

Efficacy positioning: Otezla is generally considered less effective than leading injectable biologics for severe disease, a comparison influencing prescribing toward biologics for moderate-to-severe cases.

Price increases: Historical price increases on Otezla drew scrutiny as a branded pharmaceutical, and the IRA selection addressed the high Medicare spend its pricing created.

Otezla Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Leading oral psoriasis treatment in a market dominated by injectables
+Differentiated oral delivery addresses patient preference for pills
+Backed by Amgen's inflammation franchise and commercial reach
+Established safety profile and physician familiarity
+Multiple approved indications expand addressable population

Considerations

-Medicare price-setting compresses US economics under the IRA
-$1.2 billion impairment signals the pricing trajectory ahead
-Generally less effective than injectable biologics for severe disease
-Newer oral competitors are entering the segment
-Patent timeline will eventually expose to generic competition

Frequently Asked Questions About Otezla

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Otezla

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
AmgenSister Brand	Amgen	USA	1980	Market leader	Global	All-ages
ProliaSister Brand	Amgen	USA (parent)	2010	Market leader	Global	All-ages
Teva Pharmaceuticals	Teva	Israel	1901	Leader	Global	All Genders
EnbrelSister Brand	Amgen	USA (parent)	1998	Market leader	Global	All-ages
NeulastaSister Brand	Amgen	USA (parent)	2002	Market leader	Global	All-ages