Stand Up to Cancer and Johnson & Johnson Partner on Rare Blood Cancer Therapies

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) has announced a partnership with Johnson & Johnson to support research on a combination therapy using teclistamab and daratumumab for treating AL amyloidosis, a rare disease affecting around 4,500 individuals annually in the U.S. This disease is often associated with blood cancers like multiple myeloma, lymphomas, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Jessica Vermeulen, Vice President of Oncology Late Development at Johnson & Johnson, emphasized the importance of ongoing research for this hard-to-treat disease. The collaboration aims to explore the potential of the two-drug combination in oncology, given the treatment similarities between AL amyloidosis and certain blood cancers.

The rationale for investigating the combination of teclistamab and daratumumab stems from daratumumab's existing approval as part of a different drug combination for AL amyloidosis. Additionally, data on this combination has been generated in the context of multiple myeloma. Julian Adams, Ph.D., President and CEO of SU2C, noted that recent clinical trials have looked into this combination for multiple myeloma, and the new research aims to expand its understanding for AL amyloidosis. Adams expressed gratitude for Johnson & Johnson's support in pursuing new therapies for this condition.

Amyloidosis results from cancerous plasma cells in the bone marrow, leading to an abnormal accumulation of amyloid protein in organs and tissues. The body's inability to efficiently remove this buildup can cause diseases in vital organs. AL amyloidosis, the most common type, primarily affects the heart, kidneys, liver, and nerves. It predominantly impacts men over 50, although younger individuals can also be diagnosed. Similarly, multiple myeloma affects plasma cells in the bone marrow, with 15% of multiple myeloma patients also diagnosed with AL amyloidosis.

Teclistamab functions by bridging abnormal plasma cells and T cells in the immune system, activating the latter to destroy the former. Daratumumab targets a protein on plasma cells, directly killing abnormal cells and marking them for the immune system to eliminate. It is hypothesized that using these drugs together could more effectively target multiple proteins on abnormal cells and engage different parts of the immune system to combat the disease.

U.S. investigators interested in this research are invited to submit applications by January 28, 2025, through ProposalCentral under Stand Up To Cancer. Award notifications will be made in March 2025, with the project starting in July 2025. This study is supported by a SU2C Catalyst grant, designed to generate early efficacy and safety data rapidly, in collaboration with leading Amyloidosis investigators across the U.S.

Stand Up To Cancer® raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers, aiming to cure all patients. It operates as a charitable organization and was launched in 2008 by media and entertainment leaders. SU2C collaborates with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) to identify and fund the best research proposals, oversee grants administration, and review research progress.

Current members of the SU2C Founders and Advisors Committee include prominent figures such as Katie Couric, Sherry Lansing, and Ellen Ziffren. The late Laura Ziskin and Noreen Fraser are also co-founders. Julian Adams, Ph.D., serves as SU2C's president and CEO.

Johnson & Johnson focuses on healthcare innovation, aiming to build a world where diseases are prevented, treated, and cured. Through their expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, they are uniquely positioned to innovate across the healthcare spectrum, delivering breakthroughs and significantly impacting global health.