Janssen’s Tecvayli introduced in Egypt for multiple myeloma

EGYPT—Janssen, the pharmaceutical division of Johnson & Johnson, has introduced Tecvayli to the Egyptian market, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a severe and life-threatening blood cancer.

Multiple myeloma accounts for about 15% of all blood cancers and nearly 2% of cancer-related deaths globally.

Janssen’s commitment to this field is backed by over 20 years of dedicated research and innovation aimed at developing effective therapies for this complex disease.

Multiple myeloma is an aggressive cancer characterized by abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow, often complicated by anemia, infections, nerve damage, kidney issues, and bone fractures.

Dr. Ashraf El-Ghandour, Professor of Hematology at Alexandria University, emphasized the importance of advanced therapies and consistent treatment adherence to manage the disease effectively, in line with international clinical guidelines.

Tecvayli is a targeted monotherapy designed for adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have undergone at least three prior treatments.

According to Dr. Raafat Abdel Fattah, a hematologist at Cairo University’s National Cancer Institute, Tecvayli works by targeting the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on cancer cells and is administered via subcutaneous injection.

This mechanism helps activate the patient’s own immune system to attack and control the cancer, offering hope especially to those with limited treatment options or who have developed resistance to previous therapies.

Dr. Ahmed El-Houfi, Managing Director of Janssen Egypt, highlighted the collaborative effort between Egypt’s national institutions and the private sector to bring innovative treatments like Tecvayli to patients promptly.

He noted the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare services, aligning with Egypt’s Vision 2030.

Janssen aims to continue partnering with stakeholders to ensure broad access to this new treatment.

Dr. Heba Hussein, Medical Director at Janssen Egypt, pointed out that Tecvayli’s launch reinforces Janssen’s leadership in multiple myeloma treatment, a field where the company has been pioneering since 2017.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mervat Mattar, Professor of Hematology at Qasr Al-Aini, stressed that the availability of Tecvayli in Egypt represents a major step forward in offering effective therapies to patients facing relapse or resistance, ultimately improving their quality of life.

Tecvayli, approved by the U.S. FDA in 2022, is a bispecific antibody that binds simultaneously to BCMA on myeloma cells and CD3 on T-cells, bringing them together to trigger the immune system to destroy cancer cells.

 Unlike CAR T-cell therapies, Tecvayli is an off-the-shelf treatment that does not require harvesting and engineering a patient’s T-cells, allowing faster and easier access to therapy.

Clinical trials have shown promising results, with around 62% of patients responding to treatment, including deep and durable remissions.

Janssen’s more than 60 years of experience in oncology and strategic partnerships continue to drive innovations that improve patient outcomes worldwide.

The introduction of Tecvayli in Egypt is a testament to this ongoing mission to reduce the burden of multiple myeloma and provide patients with cutting-edge treatment options.

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