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B-cell malignancies

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Our precise focus in B-cell malignancies
B-cells are a type of white blood cell (B-lymphocyte) that are part of the immune system and play an important role in fighting infection in the body. [1] Usually, the body makes new lymphocytes only when they are needed to replace old cells that have died. In B-cell malignancies, these cells malfunction, and become malignant. This means they grow when the body doesn’t need them and reproduce at an abnormal rate. [2]
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B-cell malignancies can broadly be categorised into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.[3] There are many different types, each with distinct characteristics, behaviours and treatment approaches, and each person’s experience with the disease is unique. While much progress has been made over the past decade, we remain focused on continuing to develop new treatment options with reduced side effects that can improve quality of life and prolong the duration of remission for all patients with these complex blood cancers.
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Our approach to research
A better understanding of disease biology and the emergence of newer generation therapies has led to clinical outcomes greatly improving for many patients living with certain types of B cell malignancies over the last decade. [20] [21] [22] We are proud to have contributed to this innovation by delivering first-in-class targeted treatment regimens that provide patients and physicians with non-chemoimmunotherapy options for use in treating CLL, MCL and WM.

However, unmet medical needs remain, [23] and we are committed to building on our progress in this area through a comprehensive clinical development programme. By deepening our understanding of these complex forms of blood cancer and taking a patient-focused approach, we’re striving to deliver the next wave of innovations that are tailored to patient’s individual needs and preferences.
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With this in mind, we are steadfast in our commitment to stay in front of cancer, moving towards a future where treatment-free remissions and cures are not just conceivable, but increasingly within reach.
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More from Oncology at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine EMEA

References

[1] B Cell Metabolism and Autophagy in Autoimmunity - PMC (nih.gov)
[2]  WebMD. What is B-Cell Lymphoma: Available at:  https://www.webmd.com/cancer/lymphoma/what-is-b-cell-lymphoma#1. Last accessed March 2024.
[3] National Cancer Institute. Lymphoma-patient version. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma. Last accessed March 2024.
[4] American Cancer Society. What is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia/about/what-is-cll.html. Last accessed March 2024.
[5] Hallek M. Signaling the end of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: new frontline treatment strategies. Blood. 2013; 122(23): 3723-27234.
[6] Chiorazzi M, et al. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:804-815.
[7] Yang O. Trends in disease burden of chronic lymphocytic leukemia at the Global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2019, and projections until 2030: A population-based epidemiologic study. Frontiers in Oncology. 2022;12.doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.840616.
[8] Eichhorst B, et al; ESMO Guidelines Committee. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2021 Jan;32(1):23-33.
[9] Lymphoma Action. Mantle cell lymphoma. Available at: https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/types-lymphoma-non-hodgkin-lymphoma/mantle-cell-lymphoma. Last accessed March 2024
[10] Cancer Research UK. Mantle cell lymphoma. Available at: https://cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/types/mantle-cell. Last accessed March 2024.
[11] Dreyling M. Newly diagnosed and relapsed mantle cell lymphoma: Esmo clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Annals of Oncology. 2018; 28:iv62–iv71. https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdx223.
[12] American Cancer Society. What is Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia? Available at: https://cancer.org/cancer/waldenstrom-macroglobulinemia/about/what-is-wm.html. Last accessed March 2024.
[13] “Waldenström Macroglobulinemia - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment: Nord. National Organization for Rare Disorders. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/waldenstroms-macroglobulinemia/. Last accessed March 2024
[14] Orphanet: Waldenström Macroglobulinemia. Available at: https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Expert=33226. Last accessed March 2024.
[15] Lymphoma Action. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Available at: https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/types-lymphoma-non-hodgkin-lymphoma/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma. Last accessed March 2024.
[16] Tilly H. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow-Up. Annals of Oncology. 2015; 26: v116–v125. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdv304.
[17] Smith A. Impact of Age and Socioeconomic Status on Treatment and Survival from Aggressive Lymphoma: A UK Population-Based Study of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Cancer Epidemiology. 2015; 39: 6:1103–1112. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2015.08.015.
[18] Lymphoma Action. Follicular Lymphoma. Available at: https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/types-lymphoma-non-hodgkin-lymphoma/follicular-lymphoma. Last accessed March 2024.
[19] Orphanet: Follicular Lymphoma. Available at: https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Lng=GB&Expert=545#:~:text=Clinical%20description,are%20affected%20in%20rare%20cases. Last accessed March 2024.
[20] Yosifov DY. From biology to therapy: the CLL success story. Hemasphere. 2019;3: e175.
[21] Schieber M. Current overview and treatment of mantle cell lymphoma. F1000Res. 2018;7: F1000 Faculty Rev-1136. doi:10.12688/f1000research.14122.1
[22] Pooja A. Updates in prognostication and treatment of Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy. 2019; 12:4: 179-188. doi.org/10.1016/j.hemonc.2019.05.002. 
[23] Cheson B D. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: new targets and novel therapies. Blood Cancer Journal. 2021;11,68.
[24] Johnson & Johnson. The next frontier of prostate cancer care. Available at: https://www.jnj.com/innovation/next-frontier-prostate-cancer-treatment. Last accessed: March 2024.
[25] HEAL. Men Prostate Cancer. Available at: https://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/prostate_testical.pdf. Last accessed March 2024.
[26] European Cancer Patient Coalition White Paper on Bladder Cancer 2016. Available at: https://ecpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ECPC-White-Paper-Bladder-Cancer-EN-1.pdf. Last accessed March 2024.
[27] Montazeri K. Erdafitinib for the treatment of metastatic bladder cancer. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology. 2020;13(1): 1-6.
[28] Cancer.net. Lung cancer – non-small cell: statistics. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lung-cancer-non-small-cell/statistics. Last accessed March 2024.

CP-459038
September 2024