On Apr. 8, 1980, AMGen (Applied Molecular Genetics) was established in Thousand Oaks, California as the brainchild of venture capitalists William K. (Bill) Bowes and associates. With a staff of three, the Company occupies a shared building, now called “Building 1.”

AMGen names its first CEO, scientist and businessman George B. Rathmann. Dubbed “Mr. Biotech” by Red Herring magazine, Rathmann has been called one of the great geniuses of high-tech entrepreneurialism. Working from a small trailer to free up space for scientists, Rathmann quickly establishes scientific goals and secures funding to conduct grand experiments in technology.

In the first three years, AMGen scientists attempt many things: creating organisms to extract oil from shale, growing chickens faster, making specialty chemicals, cloning luciferase (the light source for fireflies) and creating a process for producing indigo dye in E. coli—an achievement that garners the prestigious cover of Science magazine. The final direction for the Company would be treating and curing disease.