Summary of significant accounting policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of significant accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies

Business

Amgen Inc. (including its subsidiaries, referred to as “Amgen,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) is a global biotechnology pioneer that discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. Our medicines help millions of patients in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bone disease, and other serious illnesses. We operate in one business segment: human therapeutics.

Basis of presentation

The financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, is unaudited but includes all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, unless otherwise indicated), which Amgen considers necessary for a fair presentation of its condensed consolidated results of operations for those periods. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the full fiscal year.

Prior-period amounts for amortization of certain acquired intangible assets have been reclassified within Operating expenses in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income to conform to the current-period presentation.

The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Principles of consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Amgen as well as its majority-owned subsidiaries. We do not have any significant interests in any variable interest entities. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Property, plant and equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at historical cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $6.5 billion and $6.6 billion as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Comprehensive income

In January 2013, we adopted a new accounting standard that requires additional disclosures regarding amounts that are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). In accordance with the requirements of the standard, the effects of significant reclassifications out of AOCI, by component, on the respective lines in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income are presented in Note 8, Stockholders' equity. The standard was required to be applied prospectively beginning January 1, 2013.