Excluding special items, Amgen earned $2.57 per share, topping analysts’ average expectations by 14 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The strong second-quarter performance led the world’s largest biotechnology company to boost 2015 profit and revenue expectations. Amgen now sees adjusted earnings of $9.55 to $9.80 per share, up from its prior view of $9.35 to $9.65.