Related party transactions (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Dividends received from related party	$ 0	$ 0	$ 110,000,000
Kirin-Amgen [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ownership interest (in percent) in related party	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%
Dividends received from related party			110,000,000
Payments that may be received upon the achievement of various substantive success-based development and regulatory approval milestones	125,000,000
Kirin-Amgen [Member] \| Accrued liabilities[ Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount owned to related party	75,000,000	62,000,000
Kirin-Amgen [Member] \| Noncurrent other assets [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Approximate carrying value of the company's equity method investment net of dividends received	400,000,000	400,000,000
Kirin-Amgen [Member] \| Selling, General and Administrative [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Company's share of profits of related party	47,000,000	71,000,000	72,000,000
Kirin-Amgen [Member] \| Other revenues [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenues earned by Amgen from related party	130,000,000	96,000,000	102,000,000
Kirin-Amgen [Member] \| Research and development [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost recoveries by Amgen from related party	85,000,000	88,000,000	96,000,000
Kirin-Amgen [Member] \| Cost of sales excludes amortization of certain acquired intangible assets [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalties earned by related party from Amgen	$ 298,000,000	$ 322,000,000	$ 327,000,000

Milestone payments that may be received upon the achievement of various success-based milestones.

No definition available.

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Cost recoveries recorded as reductions in expenses realized from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of obligations due all related parties. For classified balance sheets, represents the current portion of such liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

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The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

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Expenses recognized during the period resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

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Revenues, net of returns and allowances, realized from sales and other transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

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