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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. , May 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ ) today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership that enlists a third party to review requests made to the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) for compassionate use of its investigational medicines. This new approach will begin as a pilot program focused on a single Janssen investigational medicine and, if successful, will become a model that will be applicable more broadly across Johnson & Johnson.
The FDA describes compassionate use as "a pathway for patients to gain access to investigational drugs, biologics and medical devices for serious diseases or conditions. Such investigational drugs have not yet been approved by the FDA, and they have not been proven to be safe and effective."[i]
For compassionate use requests, Janssen has a long-established single point of contact: all interested treating physicians can contact Janssen Medical Information (1-800-JANSSEN in the United States or [email protected] ). Physicians outside the U.S. may contact the Janssen office in their country. Physicians are asked to provide information about the patient that is used to evaluate the request.
"As we commence this new approach with an investigational medicine, Janssen will direct relevant requests to the CompAC for their evaluation, especially to help with requests that do not otherwise qualify for ongoing clinical trials or expanded access programs," Dr. Ray said.
If permitted by local authorities, Janssen typically establishes an expanded access program (EAP) for investigational medicines when a favorable benefit-risk profile has been reported in a pivotal trial and there is a viable regulatory path to approval confirmed with a health authority. The EAP can potentially allow the treatment to be made available to patients living with the same serious or life-threatening condition for which the medicine was originally studied and who have exhausted other treatment options. If patients do not qualify for an EAP or an existing clinical trial, their requests will be forwarded to CompAC.
Dr. Caplan likens the CompAC to what the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has achieved with its allocation process. "We want to establish a model that will create a structured policy of allocation based on equality, need and efficacy to ensure that the utility of our scarce resources are maximized," he said. "If successful, CompAC will serve as a model for others in industry and in government to follow."
Janssen has a long-standing commitment to providing expanded access to its investigational medicines prior to approval where it is appropriate to support the needs of patients with serious illnesses. This new collaboration extends existing approaches by adding an external evaluation to the process. More information about the current Janssen policy on pre-approval access to investigational medicines can be found at: http://www.janssenrnd.com/our-innovation/access-to-investigational-medicines .
A video including Drs. Waldstreicher and Ray is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie6ky2_rbWE&feature=youtu.be .
About Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At Janssen, we are dedicated to addressing some of the most important unmet medical needs in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious diseases and vaccines, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop innovative products, services and health care solutions to help people throughout the world. Janssen Research & Development, LLC, is one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Please visit www.janssen.com for more information. A list of Janssen country offices can be found at http://www.janssen.com/our-companies.html .
About Johnson & Johnson
Caring for the world one person at a time inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science – bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 126,500 employees at more than 265 Johnson & Johnson operating companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.
[i] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Available at http://www.fda.gov/ForPatients/Other/ExpandedAccess/ucm20041768.htm . Accessed on April 15, 2015 .
SOURCE Johnson & Johnson