Ever-evolving pharma: The need to plan for change
Kevin Leshuk of Forus Therapeutics provides insights into advancing blood cancer Txs in Canada, managing your own career, and pivoting with change (1,100 words, 5.5 minutes)
A milestone has been reached for multiple myeloma patients in Canada seeking additional treatment options for the rare blood cancer. Several provinces recently approved public funding coverage for selinexor (XPovio), an oral medication providing a novel approach to combat the difficult-to-treat disease.
While not a cure, specialists indicate XPovio could extend life for some if added to current standards of care. The fact that multiple provinces are now funding XPovio for the treatment of multiple myeloma in adults is a huge milestone for patients in those markets, according to Kevin Leshuk, President and CEO of Forus Therapeutics.
“It means that patients have another treatment choice as they battle multiple myeloma, which is a very difficult disease to treat,” he said during an episode of the 11th season of the NPC Podcast from the National Pharmaceutical Congress. “It’s still incurable, and patients need options, so we’re thrilled that we can bring exposure through all of the processes, and patients are benefiting from it.”
Leshuk [pictured below] noted that the mission of Forus Therapeutics is to make a difference on behalf of patients. He also said the company’s objective is to continue to expand and bring new therapeutics to the Canadian healthcare system. He describes Canada as a complex market and emphasizes it is important to have conversations with other Canadian companies to develop partnerships.
“I think there’s unbelievable science in Canada. The only partner avenues are the big multinationals, and those are important collaborations and partnerships,” he said. “But if you can have a Canadian partner that understands the Canadian lifecycle and ecosystem, then maybe we can make the tagline from bench to bedside a reality for Canadians, and you can do that with a company based in Canada. You can’t always guarantee that if you’re part of a multinational framework.”
During the episode, Leshuk also discussed the importance of managing your career. He said professionals need to build a network of people who will be honest about their strengths and identify areas of improvement. It is key to be ready for change, he said, adding that everyone should always be prepared for the unexpected. “You’re accountable for your performance, and you’re accountable for where you want to take your career,” he said. “You’re accountable to be honest to yourself and know what you like to do and what you don’t like to do. Don’t try to do things because that’s a pathway that someone said you should take.”
To Leshuk, getting ahead of change requires a specific mindset. “You have to always anticipate change without letting it paralyze you,” he said, “You should also reflect on the things that you’re good at and on the things that you’re not great at and work to find ways to minimize them, and then just keep planning. In our industry, change is the only constant. So we have to learn to continue to be adaptable, realize there is a big ecosystem out there, and find ways to pivot.”
THIS WEEK 01/09/24
Health Canada approved Pfizer’s Bivalent Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine, Abrysvo, for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in adults 60 years of age and older by active immunization, and infants from birth through six months of age by active immunization of their mothers during pregnancy.
Arcutis Canada announced Health Canada has accepted for review the Supplement to a New Drug Submission for roflumilast foam 0.3%, a steroid-free, once-daily phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor for the topical treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in patients nine years of age and older.
Takeda Canada entered into a contract with Canadian Blood Services (CBS) for an alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (Glassia) resulting from CBS’s request for a proposal for hereditary deficiency of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1). Glassia has been approved to be listed on the CBS Plasma Protein and Related Products formulary with specific criteria for reimbursement.
The U.S. FDA has approved Chiesi Global’s birch triterpenes (Filsuvez) topical gel for the treatment of partial thickness wounds in patients six months and older with Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa and Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa.
LISTEN UP
In season 11 of the NPC Podcast, Andrea Schwarz, Commercial Lead in Canada at BeiGene Canada, gives insights into launching a commercial team during the pandemic, being at a company that focuses solely on oncology, and providing opportunities for the next generation of pharma. Hear her in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea and Mark McElwain.
HEALTHBIZ REWIND
This feature of NPC Healthbiz Weekly looks back at some of the most insightful moments from previous NPC Podcast episodes. In Healthbiz Rewind, you’ll read bold life sci predictions made during the renowned “Prognostication Korner” segment of the NPC Podcast.
Ronnie Miller
Board Chair, Ceapro
(and former CEO of Roche Canada)
Mississauga, Ont.
Season 04, episode 08
Listen to this episode here (This episode was recorded in June of 2021)
What gets me excited about the future is that attitudes in the industry are changing. Drug development now involves having patients be part of clinical trial protocols, talking to families, and getting involved, particularly for drugs for rare diseases. We’re no longer a “one size fits all” industry.
I think diseases are now much more segmented [than years ago] and can be focused, and we will also become a dynamic environment from cradle to grave. How do we interact? How do we become a better partner at that table? I think we as an industry are learning to be better partners, learning to be humble, and less arrogant.
The base of it all is science, and one thing we’re very proud of at Roche is the amount of money we put back into research — $11 billion a year — is a huge bet on the future, trying to tie all that together. If the industry has that approach, it’s going to be for the betterment of society. Everyone has an infinite desire to live as long and as healthily as they can, so we’ll be around for many centuries to come.
NEXT WEEK
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