J&J Says In-Development Blood-Cancer Treatment Shows Promise

By Connor Hart

Johnson & Johnson released data from a late-stage study of its treatment for certain blood cancers, which showed sustained disease control and survival.

The drugmaker on Wednesday said its treatment--a combination of Tecvayli and Darzalex Faspro--significantly improved overall survival versus standard of care in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who had previously received between one and three lines of therapy.

Multiple myeloma is a complex blood cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called plasma cells, which are found in the bone marrow.

An analysis of late-stage trial data showed that 87% of patients who were treated with the combination of Tecvayli and Darzalex Faspro as early as the second line were estimated to have comparable mortality risk to the general population, J&J said.

A separate analysis showed the survival benefit was driven by a 90% reduction in the risk of multiple myeloma progression, compared with standard of care and with no significant difference in rates of non-relapse mortality, the company added.

"The continued analyses of the unprecedented MajesTEC-3 trial challenge long-held expectations of what may be possible in multiple myeloma," said Yusri Elsayed, global therapeutic area head of oncology at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine.

"Our ambition is to build on this progress by fundamentally changing the long-term trajectory of multiple myeloma and, ultimately, creating a future in which this disease is no longer defined as incurable," he added.

Write to Connor Hart at connor.hart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 23, 2026 10:35 ET (14:35 GMT)