Executives from BioNJ and the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, two associations that represent the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical technology industries in the state, provide remarks on the positive impact New Jersey’s life sciences industry is having on the fight against cancer.
BY Debbie Hart, President and CEO OF BioNJ
New Jersey’s biopharmaceutical companies and research institutions are working tirelessly in the pursuit of innovative oncology medicines and therapies. Building upon a strong legacy in developing cancer treatments, researchers and clinicians are making remarkable progress in the fight against cancer – changing how we understand, fight and, in some cases, cure cancer – ultimately helping patients live longer and healthier lives.
New Jersey is the No. 2 state for cancer development – with 8 of the 15 novel FDA oncology drug approvals in 2021 coming from companies with a footprint in New Jersey, including BioNJ members ADC Therapeutics, Amgen, Genmab, GSK, Janssen and Merck. Biopharma leaders continue to choose the Garden State to locate their facilities and laboratories to perform their groundbreaking research, such as BeiGene, which recently announced plans to build a 185,000-square-foot new R&D and manufacturing facility in Hopewell, and the recent groundbreaking of the state’s first free-standing research cancer hospital, the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center in New Brunswick.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act and the 31% decline in cancer death rates from 1991 through 2018, BioNJ is inspired by and privileged to work with our biopharmaceutical companies who are committed to changing the lives of patients and their families around the world … Because Patients Can’t Wait®.
By Dean Paranicas, President and CEO, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ)
New Jersey is a global leader in the fight against cancer. As one of the world’s great life sciences hubs, decisions made in New Jersey – the medicine chest of the world – continually improve outcomes with one fundamental goal, to extend and improve the overall quality of a patient’s life.
New Jersey ranks second nationally in the number (357) of cancer drugs in development, and its footprint in cancer research grows. Although attention is currently focused on COVID-19 and the life sciences industry’s rapid response, our companies have sustained their pursuit of new cures and therapies for a broad range of cancer types, including breast cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, kidney cancer, blood, prostate and colorectal cancers and hematology, acute myeloid leukemia, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, glioblastoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Add to that R&D that has yielded cutting-edge technologies including gene therapy, CAR-T immunotherapy and nanomedicine, which are transforming the standard of care for cancer patients.
These companies also have expanded their support for the cancer community during the pandemic with programs like Pfizer’s “Get It Done” initiative, designed to educate the public on the importance of keeping up with cancer screenings and follow-up appointments during the COVID-19 crisis.
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