Committed to Advancing Prostate Cancer Innovation for Patients
Committed to Advancing Prostate Cancer Innovation for Patients
As this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) is upon us, I’ve been reflecting on the tremendous progress that has been made in the understanding and treatment of prostate cancer.
I’m proud to work with a team of Janssen scientists, physicians and professionals who passionately lead the development of important options for the treatment of prostate cancer. The acquisition of Cougar Biotechnology, Inc. by Janssen in 2009 marked an important chapter in this story and culminated in an inflection point that fundamentally changed the treatment landscape for patients. Yet, because of the complexity and heterogeneity of prostate cancer, which today is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, we understand the need to do more for patients. And that’s our commitment and promise.
Today, we hope that by intervening earlier, we can delay the progression of castration resistant prostate cancer in many patients, give them more time, and perhaps one day reach a point where we can prevent the disease from spreading entirely. We are pursuing innovative clinical approaches using newer endpoints, such as metastasis-free survival (MFS), combination therapies and personalized medicines with companion diagnostics to tailor treatment based on genetic profiles. Our aim is to bring novel solutions to patients diagnosed with prostate cancer as quickly as possible while advancing treatment paradigms to change the course of the disease.
At Janssen, our vision is to transform cancer into a curable or even preventable disease. We are intent on providing hope to men with prostate cancer — dads, uncles and brothers — and more time to enjoy life’s moments with loved ones today, while living well into the future.
Posted on February 14, 2019
Mark Wildgust, Ph.D., has spent more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry working primarily in oncology, hematology and virology. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom, in Biological Sciences and his Ph.D. in Trace Metal Toxicology at the University of Manchester, UK. Mark then spent time as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Maryland. After leaving academia, Mark worked for a number of pharmaceutical companies, including Janssen. Over the last 13 years with Janssen, he has led the development of medical compound strategies and closely collaborated with academic investigators and scientists around the world focusing on innovative research with a relentless passion for transforming outcomes for patients. Today, Mark serves as a Vice President of Global Medical Affairs for Janssen Oncology.