George Rathmann, Amgen’s first CEO who built it into the world’s largest biotechnical company and was the recipient in 2002 of the James Madison Medal from Princeton, died April 22, 2012, at the age of 84.

Generally viewed as one of the founders and senior statesmen of the biotech industry, Rathmann led Amgen in the 1980s as it developed two very successful drugs — Epogen (for anemia) and Neuprogen (for avoiding infection from chemotherapy). After leaving Amgen in 1990, Rathmann helped found ICOS Corp. and was its chairman from 1990-2000. ICOS developed Cialis (for erectile dysfunction) and was bought by Eli Lilly & Co.

Rathmann graduated from Northwestern in 1948, and in 1951 earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton. From 1951 to 1972, he worked for 3M, and then from 1972 to 1975 for Litton Medical Systems. In 1975, he became head of research and development for the diagnostic division of Abbott Laboratories.

After scientists learned how to splice genes from one organism into another in the late 1970s, Rathmann (on leave from Abbott) worked in a UCLA laboratory to learn the technology. The professor who ran this lab started Amgen, and Rathmann joined the start-up in 1980.

Rathmann is survived by Joy, his wife of 61 years; five children; and 13 grandchildren.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.

Graduate Class of 1951