Amgen vs Samsung: Founders, CEOs and History
Amgen was founded in 1980 by George B. Rathmann, William K. Bowes Jr. and is led by Robert A. Bradway. Samsung was founded in 1969 by Lee Byung-chul and is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon.
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.
Samsung
Lee Byung-chul
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung Sanghoe in Daegu in 1938, trading dried fish, produce and noodles.
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
Samsung
- Jong-Hee Han2022–2025
Vice Chairman and CEO
A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand. He died suddenly in March 2025 while in office.
Source - Jay Y. Lee2022–present
Executive Chairman
Grandson of the founder and son of Lee Kun-hee. He was convicted in the 2017 bribery case and pardoned in 2022, and became Executive Chairman in October 2022. In 2025 the Supreme Court upheld his acquittal in the separate merger and accounting fraud case.
Source - Jun Young-hyun2024–present
Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device Solutions
He implemented a complete overhaul of the semiconductor division's engineering processes, issuing a rare public apology in 2024 for the company's technological delays.
Source - Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh)2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device eXperience
As head of the MX (Mobile eXperience) division, he heavily integrated AI features (Galaxy AI) into the S-series flagship phones to combat Apple's dominance in the premium tier.
Source
Timeline: Amgen and Samsung side by side
1938Samsung
Samsung Group begins
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a trading company before later generations expanded the group into electronics and industry.
1969Samsung
Samsung Electronics established
Samsung Electronics Industry Co. Ltd. was established as the group entered electronics manufacturing.
1977Samsung
Korea Semiconductor acquired
Samsung acquired Korea Semiconductor, a key step toward memory and component manufacturing leadership.
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.
1993Samsung
New Management initiative
Lee Kun-hee launched the New Management push to raise quality, design, and global competitiveness.
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.
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.
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.
2017Samsung
Harman acquisition closes
Samsung completed the Harman acquisition, expanding into connected car systems and premium audio.
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.
2022Samsung
Jong-Hee Han becomes CEO
Jong-Hee Han became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2022. A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand.
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.
2024Samsung
Jun Young-hyun becomes CEO
Jun Young-hyun became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2024. Head of the semiconductor (Device Solutions) division and memory business; sole CEO for part of 2025 after Han Jong-hee's death, then co-CEO with TM Roh from November 2025.
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.
2025Samsung
TM Roh joins Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO
Samsung named TM Roh Head of Device eXperience and CEO, joining Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO.
2025Samsung
Annual revenue reaches ~$237B (KRW 333.6T)
Samsung Electronics reported ~$237 billion (KRW 333.6 trillion) in 2025 annual revenue and ~$31 billion (KRW 43.6 trillion) in operating profit.
2025Samsung
Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh) becomes CEO
Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh) became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2025. Longtime head of the mobile business.
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.
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
Samsung
- FlaktGroup2025$1.7B
- Xealth2025Undisclosed
- Harman International2017$8B
- SmartThings2014$200M
Questions about Amgen vs Samsung
Who is the CEO of Amgen Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Amgen Inc. is led by Robert A. Bradway and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Amgen Inc. founded vs Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded in 1969 — 11 years before Amgen Inc., which was founded in 1980. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.'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 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Amgen Inc. employs approximately 31,500 people, while Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. employs approximately 259,149. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 259,149 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 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. headquartered?
Amgen Inc. is headquartered in United States and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is headquartered in South Korea. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Amgen Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Amgen Inc. was founded by George B. Rathmann, William K. Bowes Jr.. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded by Lee Byung-chul.
Which company has a longer operating history — Amgen Inc. or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 57 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 Samsung overview