On Monday, Amgen Inc., the world' largest and top-ranked biotechnology firm, posted a slightly disappointing earnings report for the year's fourth-quarter, while also asserting that revenue and net profits for the year 2010 are all set to significantly grow.

The biotech company also confirmed that it has submitted the information that the US Food and Drug Administration had called for with regards to its experimental bone medicine denosumab. The health regulator had declined the drug in October last year as a treatment for osteoporosis.

The fourth-quarter results, which have come after Amgen had snubbed all expectations for a positive growth, have missed the estimates pegged by Wall Street analysts, although the positive
2010 outlook and news on the bone medicine might just be able stir the interest of investors over the coming times.

"It is fairly plain vanilla. It is pretty good that this company that tends to give conservative guidance was able to bracket consensus at this stage in the year", said analyst Eric Schmidt with Cowen & Co.

For three months up-to December 31, the company posted earnings of $931 Million, or 92 cents per share, a substantial rise when compared to last year's figure of $925 Million, or 87 cents a share.

Revenue surged by 1.5% to $3.81 Billion.