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Janssen EMEA › Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma

oncology - multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a complex disease but there is hope for you and your loved ones: we are fully committed to fighting this and all other forms of cancer through the development of cutting-edge, personalised treatments with reduced side effects that can improve quality of life, lessen resistance to therapy and prolong the duration of remission.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable blood cancer that arises from plasma cells in the bone marrow.[1] In Europe, it is classified as a rare disease, meaning it has a prevalence of less than five in every 10,000 people.[2]

Pathology microscopic of bone biopsy of multiple myeloma

Introduction to Multiple Myeloma

While treatment options have improved over the years, multiple myeloma remains an incredibly complex disease to treat, especially as patients can become resistant to therapy.[3] Sadly, around 50% of newly diagnosed patients do not reach five-year survival.[4] At Janssen, this is something we are working hard to change.

More can be done to address this area of unmet medical need and improve outcomes for these patients. Our goals are:[5]

• Improved treatment efficacy

• Reduce side effects

• Prolonging duration of remission

• Improving quality of life

 

Multiple myeloma (MM) in numbers

 
 

In Europe, more than 48,200 people were diagnosed with MM in 2018, and more than 30,800 patients died.[6]

Between 1996 and 2016, new cases of MM increased by 126% globally, with Western Europe among the worst affected.[7]

 

MM is slightly more common in men than women.[8]

 

MM typically affects people over the age of 65.[8]

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References

[1] Abdi J, Chen G, Chang H, et al. Drug resistance in multiple myeloma: latest findings and new concepts on molecular mechanisms Oncotarget. 2013;4:2186–2207.

[2]  EMA. Orphan medicines in the EU. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/leaflet/leaflet-orphan-medicines-... Last accessed: November 2020.

[3] Kumar SK, Lee JH, Lahuerta JJ, et al., Risk of progression and survival in multiple myeloma relapsing after therapy with IMiDs and bortezomib: a multicenter international myeloma working group study. Leukemia. 2012;26:149-57.

[4] Fonseca, R., et al. Frontline treatment patterns and attrition rates by subsequent lines of therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. BMC Cancer. 2020;20:1087.

[5] Richardson PG, Palumbo A, Mateos MV, et al. The current unmet medical needs in the treatment and management of multiple myeloma (MM). Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2015;15(Suppl.3):e244 (abstract PO-288).

[6] GLOBOCAN 2018. Cancer Today Population Factsheets: Europe Region. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/908-europe-fact-sh.... Last accessed November 2020.

[7] Cowan AJ, Allen C, Barac A, et al. A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. JAMA Oncology. 2018;4(9):1221-1227.

[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: November 2020.