Medicine and science are evolving
rapidly and it is exciting to be part
of developing new technologies and
approaches to treating cancer
treatment most likely to benefit them. As such, a
growing number of our pipeline products are
centred in a precision medicine approach, are
biomarker-based and are identified by a
companion diagnostic. As part of our commitment
to bring the right treatment, to the right patient,
at the right time, for the right outcome, we are
developing a biomarker test to identify patients
with urothelial cancer and FGFR alterations. This
will identify those most likely to benefit from
targeted therapy with erdafitinib, a first and best
in class FGFR inhibitor which is available in the
US. 15,16 We believe that advanced diagnostics can
deliver actionable information and cost-effective
solutions to guide targeted, individualised use of
our therapies in the clinic.
A similar approach is being followed for the
treatment of lung cancer with EGFR alterations,
through assets currently in the pipeline. At Janssen
we are partnering with numerous experts to bring
to life our commitment to precision medicines.
These partnerships are exploring computational
tools, artificial intelligence and big data that will
result in state-of-the-art, real-world evidence to
enable superior decision-making for diagnostics
and disease management.
Using these approaches, we need to characterise
the mechanisms of the tumour cells that lead to
drug resistance and develop tests to detect
abnormalities in the androgen receptor. These
methods will enable us to diagnose and eventually
stop cancer earlier in the disease – this process is
known as cancer interception. Janssen researchers
are currently exploring cancer interception in both
multiple myeloma and prostate cancer.
It certainly is a thrilling time in oncology and
the progress is being driven by passionate
individuals that I am delighted to call my peers
and colleagues. I am personally hugely excited to
be playing a part in the future of cancer medicines.
More information about the Janssen Oncology
Solid Tumour portfolio can be found on the
website www.janssen.com/emea.
References
1 European Medicines Agency.
ZYTIGA Summary of Product
Characteristics. www.ema.europa.
eu/en/documents/product-
information/zytiga-epar-product-
information_en.pdf (accessed
August 2019).
2 European Medicines Agency.
ERLEADA Summary of Product
Characteristics. www.ema.europa.
eu/en/documents/product-
information/erleada-epar-product-
information_en.pdf (accessed
August 2019).
3 World Health Organization. WHO
Model List of Essential Medicines.
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/
handle/10665/325771/WHO-
MVP-EMP-IAU-2019.06-eng.
pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
(accessed August 2019).
4 European Medicines Agency.
Zytiga. www.ema.europa.eu/en/
documents/overview/zytiga-epar-
summary-public_en.pdf (accessed
August 2019).
5 Janssen. 2017. European
Commission extends license for
Janssen’s ZYTIGA® plus prednisone/
prednisolone to include earlier
stage prostate cancer patients.
www.businesswire.com/news/
home/20171120005575/en/
European-Commission-Extends-
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ZYTIGA%C2%AE-Prednisone%C2%
A0%C2%A0Prednisolone (accessed
August 2019).
6 Janssen. 2019. Janssen
announces European Commission
approval of ERLEADA®
(apalutamide) for non-metastatic
castration-resistant prostate
cancer patients who are at high
risk of developing metastatic
disease. www.businesswire.com/
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7 Smith M et al. Phase 2 study
of niraparib in patients with
metastatic castration-resistant
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biallelic DNA-repair gene defects
(DRD): preliminary results of
GALAHAD. Abstract #202.
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8 Chi K et al. First results from
TITAN: A Phase III double-blind,
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9 Janssen. 2019. Janssen seeks
to expand use of ERLEADA®
(apalutamide) in the treatment
of patients with metastatic
hormone-sensitive prostate
cancer. www.businesswire.com/
news/home/20190604005600/
en/Janssen-Seeks-Expand-
ERLEADA%C2%AE-apalutamide-
7
HHE 2019 | hospitalhealthcare.com
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NCT03748641. A Phase 3
Randomized, Placebo-controlled,
Double-blind Study of Niraparib
in Combination With Abiraterone
Acetate and Prednisone Versus
Abiraterone Acetate and
Prednisone in Subjects With
Metastatic Prostate Cancer.
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2019).
12 Smith RM et al. Apalutamide
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13 Sandler, et al. ATLAS: A
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randomized, double-blind, placebo
(PBO)-controlled, phase 3 trial of
apalutamide (APA) plus androgen
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15 Erdafitinib [package insert].
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16 Loriot Y et al. Erdafitinib in
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Date of prep August 2019
Job code CP-105578