(25 Oct. 2021) Amgen Korea (GM: Sang Noh), one of the leading biotechnology companies, announced on 25 Oct. the successful hosting of the 4th Amgen Science Academy 2021: Patient Centricity Symposium attended by 280 healthcare professionals from both home and abroad. The symposium was opened by the plenary session on 20 Oct and will be wrapped up with the therapeutic area (TA)-level breakout sessions on 23 and 30 Oct.
An event arranged by Amgen Medical since 2018, the Amgen Science Academy is an occasion to exchange thoughts and ideas about values and utility of Amgen’s expertise in science and medical approach that drive the development of transformative medicines, and this year marks its 4th anniversary. It previously served as a venue to have in-depth discussions about areas of life sciences where Amgen holds a leadership position like monoclonal antibody, genetics and real-world evidence (RWE); and this year’s theme is Patient Centricity to discuss down-to-earth values and practical activities that can bring patient centricity to life. This year, the symposium talks about initiatives at Amgen driven by its corporate mission of To Serve Patients, to realize its patient-centricity from R&D to approval and reimbursement.
On the first day, participants had a chance to understand what patient-centricity really means and discuss how to reach out to patients in a way that their medical unmet needs can be addressed. Dr. Victoria Elegant, Vice President and Region Head of Medical, Amgen APAC, opened the day by introducing the meaning and values of patient-centricity at Amgen; and it was followed by the presentation from Darshna Patel, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Amgen Global, who shared how real-voice from patients are reflected in development of new therapies. Director Patel explained that new drug development starts from identification of TAs with patients’ needs, and not just efficacy and safety profile observed in clinical trials but also patient-reported outcomes like quality of living should all be factored into. Thorough analysis of patients’ experience and pharmaceutical preferences through validated tools is important as they are all closely related to the entire cycle from approval and launch to promotion and reimbursement; and Amgen has been taking this approach and reflecting patients’ real voice, which has led to successful development of transformative therapies for diseases with no other treatment options, she emphasized. Colin Baughman, founder and Managing Partner of True North Solutions, medical affairs consulting firm in the U.S., then gave the presentation about how to gather patients’ opinion and cases of digital technologies being used in each TA; and Prof. Aaron Hansen, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Canada, also introduced clinical trials where patients’ voice was heard.
The sessions on 23 Oct. discussed the values and importance of medical communication driven by patient centricity in TAs Amgen Korea focuses on like bone diseases, cardiovascular (CV) diseases and oncology, and shared how patients’ voice can be reflected in different clinical trial phases and results. During the CV session, Dr. Schuyler Jones, Duke University Medical Center, talked about examples of clinical trials based on RWE and proposed potential approaches to realize patient-centricity in real world, inviting all participants to exchange ideas and thoughts freely. At the bone disease session, Prof. Dong-won Byun, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital Seoul, introduced local patient-centric clinical cases in osteoporosis, which was followed by a panel discussion with renowned professors from Korea about the current clinical landscape here at home. For the oncology session, Monica Batra, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Amgen Global, presented what a patient-centric clinical trial means for approval of new drug. At the breakout session on hematological types of cancer to be held on 30, Colin Baughman from True North Solutions will present cases of and results from Social Listening for patients with multiple myeloma; and Prof. Ju-hee Jo, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology, will give the presentation about interpretation and clinical implementation of patient-reported outcomes and quality of life in clinical trials as well as recent trends and landscape.
Dr. Victoria Elegant, Vice President and Region Head of Medical, Amgen APAC, said: “Accelerated advancements in the biopharmaceutical industry and technologies on top of improved access to information support patients to play a more active role in making treatment-related decisions for themselves. Amgen’s endeavor to improve access to its transformative biopharmaceuticals for more patients is well reflected in all strategic steps from R&D to approval and regulatory affairs. This year’s Amgen Korea Science Academy marks a very meaningful occasion to have an in-depth medical discussion with healthcare professionals from Korea about how to bring patient-centricity to life.”
Sang Noh, GM, Amgen Korea, said: “The Amgen Science Academy led by Amgen Korea has become one of the most representative programs where a comprehensive scientific discourse can be unfolded regarding medical science research as a whole that goes beyond certain TAs with this year particular focusing on patient centricity. Amgen has remained committed to research and development of innovative medicines in TAs with limited or no treatment options, and patients have always been at the heart of all decisions we make throughout that journey. As a biotechnology leader, we will never lose sight of our mission of To Serve Patients and continue to carefully listen to what patients have to say in areas with no treatment options.”
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Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
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About Amgen Korea
Amgen Korea was established in November 2015 to further develop Amgen’s clinical pipeline which offers a wide range of products for bone disease, cardiovascular, oncology/hematology, nephrology, inflammation, neuroscience treatment and biosimilars, as well as to provide innovative medicines to patients in Korea who are suffering from severe diseases. As a member of the biotechnical industry, Amgen Korea will continue to contribute to the development of the Korean pharmaceutical industry by carrying forward diversified and positive activities.
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CONTACT:
Amgen Korea
Min-Jung Jung (mjung02@amgen.com)
Mikyung Shin (mshin@amgen.com)
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