Amgen vs PepsiCo: Founders, CEOs and History
Amgen was founded in 1980 by George B. Rathmann, William K. Bowes Jr. and is led by Robert A. Bradway. PepsiCo was founded in 1965 by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay and is led by Ramon Laguarta.
Company facts
Founders
Amgen
George B. Rathmann
Amgen, originally incorporated as Applied Molecular Genetics, was founded in 1980 not by a single scientist, but by a calculated syndicate of venture capitalists and academics trying to commercialize the brand-new science of recombinant DNA.
William K. Bowes Jr.
William K. Bowes Jr. Was the venture capital strategist whose vision catalyzed Amgen's formation.
PepsiCo
Caleb Bradham
Caleb Bradham created "Brad's Drink" at his New Bern pharmacy in 1898, renamed it Pepsi-Cola and incorporated the Pepsi-Cola Company in 1902.
Donald M. Kendall
Donald M. Kendall led Pepsi-Cola and engineered its 1965 merger with Frito-Lay to form PepsiCo, which he ran as CEO until 1986.
Herman W. Lay
Herman W. Lay (1909-1982) started his career as a snack food salesman. In 1932, he opened a snack food operation in Nashville, Tennessee, eventually purchasing the manufacturer and renaming it H.W. Lay & Company.
CEOs and their tenures
Amgen
- George B. Rathmann1980–1988
Chief Executive Officer
George Rathmann, a physical chemist who had run research and development at Abbott Laboratories, was named Amgen's first chief executive in 1980 and worked from a small trailer so that laboratory space could go to scientists.
Source - Gordon M. Binder1988–2000
Chief Executive Officer
Gordon Binder joined Amgen as chief financial officer in 1982 and led its June 1983 initial public offering.
Source - Kevin W. Sharer2000–2012
Chief Executive Officer
Kevin Sharer joined Amgen in 1992 as president and chief operating officer and became chairman and chief executive in 2000.
Source - Robert A. Bradway2012–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Bradway became chief executive on May 23, 2012, succeeding Kevin Sharer as the fourth CEO in Amgen's history, and added the chairmanship at the start of 2013.
Source
PepsiCo
- D. Wayne Calloway1986–1996
Chief Executive Officer
He more than doubled PepsiCo's revenues during his tenure and heavily invested in the restaurant division before it was later spun off.
Source - Roger Enrico1996–2001
Chief Executive Officer
He dramatically simplified the company's structure, allowing it to focus resources on its core grocery and convenience store distribution networks.
Source - Steven Reinemund2001–2006
Chief Executive Officer
He oversaw significant international expansion and revenue growth, setting a strong operational foundation before handing leadership to Nooyi.
Source - Indra Nooyi2006–2018
Chief Executive Officer
Under her 12-year tenure as CEO, PepsiCo's revenue grew by more than 80%, and she fundamentally reshaped the company's identity from a junk-food purveyor to a diversified global food and beverage giant.
Source - Ramon Laguarta2018–present
Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer
He sustained strong organic revenue growth and protected operating margins through historically challenging supply chain conditions, while committing the company to major sustainability and packaging reduction goals.
Source
Timeline: Amgen and PepsiCo side by side
1898PepsiCo
Pepsi-Cola Invented in North Carolina
Caleb Bradham formulated the original digestive cola syrup in his drugstore.
1965PepsiCo
Historic Merger of Pepsi-Cola & Frito-Lay
Donald Kendall and Herman Lay created PepsiCo, uniting snacks and soft drinks.
1975PepsiCo
Launch of the Pepsi Challenge
National blind taste tests shook Coca-Cola's market dominance and redefined advertising.
1980Amgen
Applied Molecular Genetics is incorporated
Applied Molecular Genetics (AMGen) was incorporated on April 8, 1980 in Thousand Oaks, California, as the idea of venture capitalist William K. Bowes Jr. and a group of scientific collaborators.
1983Amgen
Nasdaq listing and the erythropoietin clone
Amgen completed its initial public offering on June 17, 1983, raising nearly US$40 million under chief financial officer Gordon Binder, and formally shortened its name to Amgen.
1984Amgen
Kirin-Amgen joint venture formed
Amgen and Kirin Brewery Company of Japan formed Kirin-Amgen in 1984 as a joint venture for the worldwide commercialization of erythropoietin.
1985Amgen
G-CSF cloned, leading to Neupogen
While Fu-Kuen Lin's team worked on erythropoietin, researcher Larry Souza and his group cloned and expressed human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in 1985.
1989Amgen
FDA approves Epogen
The FDA approved Epogen (epoetin alfa) on June 1, 1989 for anemia in patients with chronic kidney failure on dialysis. It was the first commercial recombinant human erythropoietin. Epogen's U.S.
1991Amgen
Neupogen approved, giving Amgen a second franchise
The FDA approved Neupogen (filgrastim) in February 1991. By stimulating white blood cell production it reduced the risk of infection in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.
1991Amgen
Amgen wins the erythropoietin patent fight
On March 6, 1991 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the Kirin-Amgen erythropoietin patent and ruled against Genetics Institute in Amgen v. Chugai Pharmaceutical and Genetics Institute.
1997PepsiCo
Restaurant Business Spun Off
PepsiCo spun off its restaurant businesses (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC) as Tricon Global Restaurants, now Yum! Brands, in 1997.
1998PepsiCo
Acquisition of Tropicana ($3.3B)
Acquired chilled orange juice leader Tropicana to dominate morning beverages.
2001Amgen
FDA approves Aranesp, the longer-acting EPO
Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), an erythropoietin analogue with modified glycosylation and a longer half-life, was approved in 2001. Less frequent dosing than Epogen improved convenience and gave Amgen a newer, higher-priced product to migrate patients toward.
2001PepsiCo
Acquisition of Quaker Oats & Gatorade ($13.4B)
Acquired Quaker Oats, adding sports hydration pioneer Gatorade to the portfolio.
2002Amgen
US$16 billion Immunex acquisition brings Enbrel in-house
Amgen completed its acquisition of Immunex Corporation on July 16, 2002, the largest biotechnology deal to that point at about US$16 billion in stock and cash.
2006PepsiCo
Indra Nooyi becomes CEO
Indra Nooyi became CEO of PepsiCo in 2006. Chief executive of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018.
2010Amgen
Prolia and XGEVA create the bone health franchise
The FDA approved Prolia (denosumab) for postmenopausal osteoporosis in June 2010 and XGEVA, the same molecule at a higher dose, for prevention of skeletal-related events in cancer patients in November 2010.
2011PepsiCo
Wimm-Bill-Dann Acquired
PepsiCo completed its acquisition of the Russian dairy and juice company Wimm-Bill-Dann in 2011.
2018PepsiCo
Acquisition of SodaStream ($3.2B) & Ramon Laguarta Appointed CEO
Acquired SodaStream to pioneer eco-friendly dispensing; Ramon Laguarta took over as CEO.
2019Amgen
US$13.4 billion purchase of Otezla from Celgene
Amgen agreed in August 2019 to buy worldwide rights to Otezla (apremilast) from Celgene for US$13.4 billion in cash, or about US$11.2 billion net of the present value of US$2.2 billion of anticipated future cash tax benefits, and closed on November 21, 2019.
2020Amgen
Amgen joins the Dow Jones Industrial Average
Amgen replaced Pfizer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on August 31, 2020, becoming one of the thirty components in the index. Inclusion recognized the scale Amgen had reached and added passive demand from Dow-tracking funds.
2022PepsiCo
Strategic Distribution Alliance with Celsius ($550M)
Secured master global distribution for fast-growing energy brand Celsius.
2023Amgen
US$27.8 billion Horizon Therapeutics acquisition closes
Amgen completed the acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics plc on October 6, 2023 for US$116.50 per share in cash, an equity value of about US$27.8 billion, after settling FTC litigation with a behavioral consent decree.
2024Amgen
Imdelltra becomes the first T-cell engager for small cell lung cancer
The FDA granted accelerated approval to tarlatamab, sold as Imdelltra, on May 16, 2024 for extensive stage small cell lung cancer that has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.
2025Amgen
VESALIUS-CV extends the Repatha case to primary prevention
In November 2025 Amgen reported Phase 3 VESALIUS-CV results in more than 12,000 patients with atherosclerosis or diabetes but no prior heart attack or stroke.
2025PepsiCo
poppi Acquisition and Elliott-Backed Plan
Closed the $1.95 billion poppi deal and announced a North America cost and pricing reset in December.
2026Amgen
Medicare price setting reaches Enbrel and Otezla
Enbrel's negotiated Medicare price under the Inflation Reduction Act took effect on January 1, 2026, after it was named in the first round of ten drugs selected for negotiation.
2026PepsiCo
Price Cuts on Core Snacks
Lowered prices on major Frito-Lay brands by up to 15% to recover US volumes.
Acquisitions
Amgen
- Horizon Therapeutics plc2023$27.8B
- ChemoCentryx, Inc.2022$3.7B
- Five Prime Therapeutics2021$1.9B
- Celgene Otezla Business2019$13.4B
- Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2013$10.4B
- DeCODE Genetics2012$415M
PepsiCo
- poppi2025$1.9B
- SodaStream International2018$3.2B
- The Quaker Oats Company (including Gatorade)2001$13.4B
- Tropicana Products1998$3.3B
Questions about Amgen vs PepsiCo
Who is the CEO of Amgen Inc. and PepsiCo, Inc.?
Amgen Inc. is led by Robert A. Bradway and PepsiCo, Inc. is led by Ramon Laguarta. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Amgen Inc. founded vs PepsiCo, Inc.?
PepsiCo, Inc. was founded in 1965 — 15 years before Amgen Inc., which was founded in 1980. PepsiCo, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Amgen Inc..
How many employees does Amgen Inc. have compared to PepsiCo, Inc.?
Amgen Inc. employs approximately 31,500 people, while PepsiCo, Inc. employs approximately 306,000. PepsiCo, Inc. has the larger workforce at 306,000 employees, compared to Amgen Inc.'s 31,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Amgen Inc. and PepsiCo, Inc. headquartered?
Both Amgen Inc. and PepsiCo, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Amgen Inc. and PepsiCo, Inc.?
Amgen Inc. was founded by George B. Rathmann, William K. Bowes Jr.. PepsiCo, Inc. was founded by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay.
Which company has a longer operating history — Amgen Inc. or PepsiCo, Inc.?
PepsiCo, Inc. has been operating for approximately 61 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Amgen Inc. has been in operation for around 46 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Amgen vs PepsiCo overview