The new Center is focused on outpacing the
rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and builds on
Johnson & Johnson's longstanding commitment to tackle this
challenge
The Satellite Center in Cape Town is the second site to open in
Johnson & Johnson's network of research collaborations aimed at
addressing the world's most pressing health challenges
The collaboration between Johnson &
Johnson and H3D will help to further expand and strengthen
Africa's scientific capacity as a
global hub for discovery research
CAPE TOWN, South
Africa, April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson
& Johnson (the Company) (NYSE: JNJ) today announced the launch
of the J&J Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery
(Satellite Center) at the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development
(H3D) Centre, University of Cape
Town, in Cape Town, South
Africa. This marks the latest expansion of the J&J
Centers for Global Health Discovery (J&J Centers), a global
network of research collaborations between the Company and leading
research institutions to accelerate translational and discovery
research to address some of the world's most pressing global health
challenges. The Satellite Center at H3D will work to drive new
solutions to address the present and rising threat of antimicrobial
resistance (AMR) with a specific focus on multidrug-resistant
Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB).
The establishment of the J&J Centers is a critical step in
the creation of a larger, global scientific network that will help
stimulate local innovation and support researchers to drive and
advance discovery research and development
(R&D). Together, teams from the Janssen Pharmaceutical
Companies of Johnson & Johnson and H3D will leverage their
combined global, institutional and regional strengths to bolster
the early-stage science, innovation and talent development needed
to tackle AMR, a prevalent threat in Africa and around the world.
"Investing to increase the capacity of the innovation ecosystem
in Africa is critical to
strengthening the R&D pipeline for entrenched and emerging
global health challenges," said Ruxandra
Draghia-Akli, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Global Public Health
R&D at Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "By
leveraging the unique strengths of H3D and the J&J Centers, we
can cultivate the talent and capacity needed to drive innovation in
the global fight against AMR."
AMR has been named one of the top ten global health threats by
the World Health Organization (WHO) and has the power to transform
easily treated diseases into deadly killers by rendering medicines
and medical innovations ineffective. In 2019, more than 5 million
deaths were attributed to AMR, making it one of the leading causes
of death worldwide. MDR Gram-negative bacteria are
particularly concerning to public health because of their
resistance to multiple antibiotics and the limited availability of
treatment options. Currently, all three of the resistant bacteria
described as critical priority level by the WHO are
Gram-negative.
"Antibiotics have been the backbone of modern medicine for more
than a century, but increasing resistance threatens to render them
ineffective," said Anil Koul, Ph.D., Vice President of Discovery
and Partnerships, Global Public Health R&D at Janssen Research
& Development, LLC. "Our innovation in new antibiotic drug
discovery must outpace this rising threat, and the new Satellite
Center will build on Johnson & Johnson's legacy in AMR and
H3D's expertise to help deliver this ambition more quickly to
people in need."
The AMR challenge is particularly acute in Africa as well as Asia, where the transmission of pneumonia,
diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis (TB), malaria and sexually
transmitted infections, coupled with limited data surveillance, has
created an environment where significant resistance to antibiotics
can develop. Furthermore, local researchers have long faced
systemic barriers to accessing the support, resources and
infrastructure as well as new technological platforms that are key
to tackling significant health challenges like AMR.
"We must come together to advance investment in African-led
innovation to protect the health of both our communities and the
world," said Kelly Chibale, Ph.D., Founder and Director of
H3D. "It is critical that local researchers have the
opportunity to investigate the challenges that impact their
communities, without having to leave those communities. Being
embedded in local communities, H3D is uniquely positioned to
provide this opportunity. This collaboration will further foster
the talent and provide the tools and opportunity needed to create
innovative solutions in public health."
About the J&J Centers for
Global Health Discovery
Johnson & Johnson is joining forces with renowned
institutions and leveraging their regional networks to bolster
innovation and health equity in parallel through the establishment
of the J&J Centers for Global Health Discovery. The Satellite
Centers will provide long-term opportunities for mentorship of
emerging talent in the discovery sciences to stimulate both local
innovation and capacity.
Johnson & Johnson launched the first Satellite Center
in July 2021 at the London School of
Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), which is focused on
developing cutting-edge science to build the next-generation of
drug regimens needed to treat all forms of tuberculosis (TB). The
disease remains one of the most significant challenges in global
health, responsible for 1.5 million deaths in 2020 and
accounting for nearly one-third of all deaths from
AMR.
The risk of intense epidemics is growing rapidly, with the
probability of novel disease outbreaks likely to increase
three-fold in the coming decades. Despite this, the last decade has
seen a consistent decline in funding for basic science. The
J&J Centers are an important step in turning this tide and
delivering innovations needed to address the diseases that
disproportionately impact the world's poorest and most vulnerable
people.
Additional Satellite Centers will be launched in the future. To
learn more, visit
jnj.com/global-public-health/discovery-centers.
Johnson & Johnson's Efforts to
Outpace Antimicrobial Resistance
Research at the new Satellite Center will build on Johnson &
Johnson's decades of work accelerating innovation – from the lab to
the last mile of healthcare – to outpace the threat of AMR. As a
founding member of the AMR Action Fund and AMR Industry Alliance,
Johnson & Johnson has committed to investing in and advancing
critical science, as well as providing access to antibiotics and
safeguarding their long-term effectiveness, to meet public health
needs. As part of these efforts, the Janssen Pharmaceutical
Companies of Johnson & Johnson are leading the pursuit for
novel vaccines and therapeutics to tackle a range of
drug-resistant infections, including drug-resistant TB and E.
coli.
To learn more, visit, JNJ.com/AMR.
A Deep and Enduring Commitment to
Africa
Since Johnson & Johnson first opened its doors in
South Africa 90 years ago, the
Company has been committed to transforming the health of people
living in the country and across the continent, helping lead the
charge against some of the most significant health threats in the
region, like COVID-19, TB, HIV and Ebola.
Critically, Johnson & Johnson has responded to the COVID-19
pandemic by expanding capacity in Africa. In March
2022, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. completed a landmark
agreement with Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa to transfer its fill-and-finish
manufacturing technology, allowing the first COVID-19 vaccine to be
manufactured and sold by an African company for people living in
Africa. In addition to building
manufacturing capacity, the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of
Johnson & Johnson included sites in Africa for its COVID-19 vaccine clinical
trials, supported a large-scale COVID-19 vaccine implementation
study in South Africa and was the
first major manufacturer to sign a purchase agreement to
supply its vaccine to African Union countries.
About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson,
we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving
communities and forward progress. That's why for more than 130
years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every
stage of life. Today, as the world's largest and most broadly-based
healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size
for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create
healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment
within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart,
science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health
for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com. Follow us
at @JNJNews.
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson &
Johnson
At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is
a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson
& Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for
patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving
access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We
focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest
difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious
Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary
Hypertension.
Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at
www.twitter.com/JanssenUS and www.twitter.com/JanssenGlobal.
Janssen Research & Development, LLC and Janssen Biotech, Inc.
are part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson &
Johnson.
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains
"forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding antimicrobial resistance.
The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking
statements. These statements are based on current expectations of
future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known
or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could
vary materially from the expectations and projections of any of the
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson.
Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges
and uncertainties inherent in product research and development,
including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining
regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success;
manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including
technological advances, new products and patents attained by
competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety
concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes
in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care
products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations,
including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care
cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks,
uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson &
Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
January 2, 2022, including in the
sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson &
Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of
these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or
on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen
Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to
update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information
or future events or developments.
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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson