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Spotlight on Richard K. Plante
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Pharmaceutical partner; Medical Director, Hematology - Myeloma/Myeloid at Janssen Inc.; long-time, strong supporter of Myeloma Canada; helped initiate the creation of the Myeloma Canada Research Network and Database
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Editor’s Note: In celebration of our 15th Anniversary, the Spotlight section of Myeloma Matters has changed slightly. This year, our Spotlight Stars have been asked to share their stories alongside their relationship and involvement with Myeloma Canada. We hope you enjoy meeting our 2020 Spotlight Stars and that the new format provides you with information you didn’t know before.
To all of you who have shared your stories in the past, and those of you who continue to do so today, we are indebted...you are an inspiration.
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Richard, when did you first learn about Myeloma Canada?
It was the year Myeloma Canada was founded, 2005. Our [Janssen] Community Relations group was working with Aldo [Del Col, late Co-founder of Myeloma Canada] this time and we were part of a cross-functional team looking at partnering with the newly formed Myeloma Canada. I had been involved in hematology for several years and a number of stakeholders were looking to form a patient group. It sort of grew organically from there.
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Why did you choose to get involved in helping people living with myeloma?
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I was responsible for oncology since the late 1990’s and myeloma came to me as part of my portfolio. This is about 20 years ago and I didn’t know much about myeloma. I give this comment cautiously, as from the onset, I found myeloma to be extremely fascinating. The science is remarkable, and the disease is one of the most interesting out there from a scientific and research and development perspective. You may say, how can a disease be interesting? The science and the collaboration are like nothing I have been a part of before.
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Richard and his eldest daughter Ella after a 10K race supporting Camp Ooch
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The research, the investment in therapies and the way they’ve changed patient outcomes in a 15-year period is truly amazing. Against that backdrop, I started dealing more with myeloma and Myeloma Canada.
Early on I asked our Community Relations team at Janssen for a meeting with the organization and Aldo. I wanted to see if I could work with a patient group to hear their input on treatment options and clinical trial development as I had always been drawn to understanding patient perspectives. It’s been extremely rewarding working with such a passionate group of people.
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What significant thing has Myeloma Canada done for you and vice-versa?
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Richard and his wife, Margaret
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Myeloma Canada has given me a much clearer perspective on the patient journey living with a disease, and how patients display such hope and resilience. Traditionally from the clinical research side, we don’t have much contact with patient groups. Having that opportunity - and closely interacting with Myeloma Canada - helps broaden your view. I have had the opportunity to present our pipeline to Myeloma Canada’s patient groups and interact with the patients. For me, that interaction is very important. As I said, we don’t often have that chance and it is so very valuable.
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The other side of this question, what have I done or Janssen done for Myeloma Canada? With regard to population, Canada is a relatively small country. This makes it difficult to attract a global company to bring clinical trials here, but working with a national group like Myeloma Canada, we were able to get a meeting with senior management at Johnson & Johnson (the parent company to Janssen) to explain the importance of bringing myeloma clinical trials to Canada. It really showed all people involved how well we can work together. Partnering with Myeloma Canada has also led to the initiation of a compassionate use program in myeloma at Janssen which has been going on since 2008.
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What has been Myeloma Canada’s impact on your career path?
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Through Myeloma Canada I have been able to be involved in the Myeloma Canada Research Network and have been active and committed in raising the profile of myeloma research in Canada with J & J (Johnson & Johnson) worldwide. Myeloma Canada has always provided me with support and they have been a very receptive partner to new ideas. I have been fortunate to work with a group that is as strong and committed as they are.
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Why do you feel Myeloma Canada is the best "medium" through which to advocate for those impacted by myeloma?
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I can see their passion. Myeloma Canada was founded by two patients. It has grown from a grassroots organization into a national entity. They have aligned themselves with the top doctors in Canada who, in their own right, are also world leaders. I know most of these doctors and they speak very highly of the organization!
Myeloma Canada hosts, arguably, the best myeloma meeting that I have had the privilege to attend on an annual basis since its inception 11 years ago, the Myeloma Canada Scientific Roundtable - which was Aldo’s brainchild.
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Birthday celebration with two of Richard's
daughters, Maeve and Ella
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This meeting brings industry partners, top researchers in Canada, international researchers and patients all together to engage in discussions on the many advances being made in myeloma. Patients attending can see firsthand what is being done and they can take this information back to their patient groups.
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What inspires you today about the future of myeloma research?
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It’s inspiring to work with gifted and absolutely brilliant Canadian myeloma physicians and researchers. Their commitment to unravelling the complexities of such a complex disease provides real hope to patients. It’s equally inspiring to see that nothing is good enough; there are new breakthroughs to be discovered. We have a saying within J & J, “The Patients are Waiting”. We have a very strong myeloma community in Canada that is willing to challenge the status quo and has the conviction of patients to be involved. From a patient voice perspective, this has grown tremendously and that is very motivating indeed.
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Thank you for your time and insights Richard, and all you do alongside Myeloma Canada.
Thank you!
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Editor’s Note: To donate to Myeloma Canada, please visit www.myeloma.ca or call us toll-free at 1-888-798-5771.
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