Skip to content
EMEA/Our innovation /Focus areas/Oncology /Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that arises from the plasma cells in the bone marrow.[1] It is a heterogenous (highly variable) disease that is unique to every patient.[1] As multiple myeloma progresses, relapses to each line of therapy become more frequent.[2],[3] Multiple myeloma is currently incurable and after multiple relapses, remissions become progressively shorter, and patients need new and effective therapies to extend and improve their lives.[2],[3],[4]

We are striving to change outcomes for every patient with multiple myeloma, at every stage of disease, by applying cutting-edge technologies to reshape care – towards our ultimate goal of delivering a cure.
Multiple myeloma in numbers
In the European Union, it is estimated that more than 35,300 people were diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2022, and more than 22,700 patients died.[5]
More than half of patients have received treatments from three different classes of drugs by their third relapse.[6]
Multiple myeloma is the second most common form of blood cancer, and it is slightly more common in men than women.[7],[8]
Multiple myeloma is most common in people over 65 years.[8]
Lovely senior woman reading book with granddaughter
Our legacy in Multiple Myeloma
Building on nearly 20 years of dedicated leadership in multiple myeloma, our commitment to pioneer new therapeutic advances and continue redefining treatment paradigms has never been stronger.[9]

Our legacy of delivering firsts is a testament to our ambition to get in front of multiple myeloma and we remain focused on continuing to disrupt in areas of high unmet medical need to transform care and deliver curative regimens.
skin_cells.jpg
Our goal: working towards a cure
Our leadership is founded in the past, but we are looking ahead to an even brighter future where multiple myeloma is redefined as curable.

We want to get in front of multiple myeloma and give people a chance to live longer, better lives free of their disease so they can focus on what’s important to them.
A multiple myeloma diagnosis is unique to each individual, which means we need more than just one option to face this complex disease. One simple breakthrough treatment isn’t enough when every patient is unique. That’s why we’re pursuing a portfolio of immunotherapies that target the disease from every angle, and at every stage. Curing multiple myeloma is our mission; we are prepared, and we are leading the way.”
Edmond Chan, MBChB, M.D. (Res)
EMEA THERAPEUTIC AREA LEAD HAEMATOLOGY
JJ_Photo_Scientist holding lab instrument_IM_4Star.jpg
Our approach to shifting the treatment paradigm
We are intentional about expanding our portfolio, pursuing first- and complementary immunotherapies that attack the disease in different ways and can be used alone or in combination regimens throughout the course of the disease.

With our commitment and expertise, we are confident in our ability to continue to deliver tailored treatment options for all patients with multiple myeloma, and ultimately we hope to enable physicians to treat to cure.
Our innovation flows from understanding the needs of HCPs, researchers, patients, and patient advocates. We never lose sight of the people we serve, or the possibilities science unlocks. We are constantly listening and learning, using rigorous science and insights to shape our breakthroughs and get in front of multiple myeloma.
Expand
In 2023, we partnered with an expert group of patient advocates, clinical leaders, researchers and policymakers, to establish the Multiple Myeloma Collaboration Council. The first output from this partnership was the Multiple Myeloma Call-to-Action (MM CTA) which identified key areas of unmet need and suggested solutions on how to address them as we look to advance patient outcomes.[13]
Collapse
More from Oncology at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine EMEA

References

[1] Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Understanding Multiple Myeloma. Available at: https://themmrf.org/multiple-myeloma/ Last accessed: March 2024.
[2] Bhatt P, Kloock C, Comenzo R. Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: A Review of Available Therapies and Clinical Scenarios Encountered in Myeloma Relapse. Curr Oncol. 2023;30(2):2322-2347.
[3] Hernández-Rivas JÁ, et al. The changing landscape of relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (MM): fundamentals and controversies. Biomark Res. 2022;10(1):1-23.
[4] Podar K, Leleu X. Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma in 2020/2021 and Beyond. Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(20):5154.
[5] ECIS - European Cancer Information System. Estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in 2022, by country. Multiple myeloma. Available at: https://ecis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/explorer.php. Last accessed: March 2024.
[6] Dhanasiri S, et al. Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in Triple-Class Exposed Patients With Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Findings From the Multinational ITEMISE Study. Clin Ther. 2021;43(11):1983-1996.e3.
[7] Gavriatopoulou M, et al. Metabolic Disorders in Multiple Myeloma. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(21):11430.
[8] American Cancer Society. Multiple myeloma: causes, risk factors, and prevention. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8739.00.pdf. Last accessed: March 2024.
[9] Velcade summary of product characteristics. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/velcade-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Last accessed: March 2024.
[10] The Multiple Myeloma Call-To-Action. Available at: https://www.mmcalltoaction.com/pdf/MMDifference.pdf. Last accessed: March 2024.
[11] Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). Prostate cancer. Available at: https://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/prostate_testical.pdf. Last accessed: March 2024.
[12] Kamaneh Montazeri & Joaquim Bellmunt. Erdafitinib for the treatment of metastatic bladder cancer. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology. 2020;13(1):1-6.
[13] 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