Innovative approaches to diagnostics, treatment, and patient care are pivotal as we aim to advance and develop new vaccines and therapies. By building on past knowledge with innovations, the discovery phase enables us to optimize research and clinical trials to implement new strategies, with the goal of furthering advancements in healthcare.

In this episode, we had a short, one-on-one conversation with Kimberley Brown, Head of Medical Affairs, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Therapeutics at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, discussing how the discovery process has changed the way we develop critical medical care and the important role this research plays in the development of vaccines and therapeutics.

The IDViewpoints podcast was created by Janssen. Guests of IDViewpoints are not compensated in any way for participation in this podcast. All thoughts and opinions expressed on IDViewpoints are those of the guests and should not be considered medical advice. If you need medical advice or have questions about your treatment or condition, consult with your healthcare provider.

As we approach another fall and winter, which is known to many as flu season, we must recognize that this is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season as well. We discuss the diagnosis and treatment of RSV and what you need to know about this highly contagious, yet often less discussed, seasonal respiratory virus (RSV). While RSV often presents with only mild symptoms, it is a leading cause of bronchitis and pneumonia. Older adults and adults with underlying health conditions, as well as young children, are most at risk of serious complications from this highly contagious virus.

There is likely an underestimation of RSV infections worldwide since many who are infected with RSV may not be diagnosed because its symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from the flu, COVID-19, or other respiratory infections. Helping patients, providers, and caregivers to recognize the risks and symptoms associated with RSV has the potential to significantly improve patient health outcomes.

In this episode, we welcome Penny Heaton, M.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Vaccines, at Janssen, and Patricia A. Stinchfield, R.N., M.S., CPNP, President-Elect of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), as they discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the seasonality of RSV, the economic burden of the disease and more.

The IDViewpoints podcast was created by Janssen. Guests of IDViewpoints are not compensated in any way for participation in this podcast. All thoughts and opinions expressed on IDViewpoints are those of the guests and should not be considered medical advice. If you need medical advice or have questions about your treatment or condition, consult with your healthcare provider.

Diversity in healthcare is more important than ever and is associated with better health outcomes and increased access to higher quality medical care for people of color. Yet ensuring the medical pipeline is representative of the diversity of the patient populations served can be challenging.

In this episode, Bryan Baugh, M.D., Global Medical Affairs Leader, GCSO, and Michellene Davis, Esq., CEO, National Medical Fellowships (NMF) discuss the next generation of medical professionals, the challenges and opportunities for creating a diverse and inclusive pipeline, and the benefits that come as a result for patients. 

The IDViewpoints podcast was created by Janssen. Guests of IDViewpoints are not compensated in any way for participation in this podcast. All thoughts and opinions expressed on IDViewpoints are those of the guests and should not be considered medical advice. If you need medical advice or have questions about your treatment or condition, consult with your healthcare provider.

Hepatitis B is a disease that is widely known, with pediatric vaccinations common in much of the developed world. However, many may not be privy to just how serious the physical, mental, and emotional effects can be for those living with the disease.

Physically, hepatitis B attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. People living with chronic hepatitis B are at a higher risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is the leading cause of liver cancer, the third most deadly cancer. The majority of people living with the virus are unaware that they have the infection, resulting in thousands of lives lost each year despite the availability of vaccines and treatments that are both effective and affordable in most places.

As it relates to mental and emotional health, unfortunately, millions of people living with hepatitis B face the added burden of stigma and discrimination. Widely held misunderstandings and assumptions about the behaviors that lead to somebody acquiring and living with hepatitis B are frequently impacting people’s personal and professional lives, dividing and splitting families and communities, and even limiting their human rights to work, study, and travel. Additionally, people living with hepatitis B are often subject to discriminatory policies, sometimes disguised as public health interventions.

Tune in as Isabelle Lonjon-Domanec, M.D., Senior Medical Director, Janssen Infectious Diseases and Danjuma K. Adda MPH, FIMS, Dip-IMS, President-Elect of World Hepatitis Alliance discuss the impact of stigma on people living with hepatitis B, highlight findings and key takeaways of the newly-released report developed by the World Hepatitis Alliance with support from Janssen, and how policymakers, healthcare professionals and the general public alike can help to make a difference.

The IDViewpoints podcast was created by Janssen. Guests of IDViewpoints are not compensated in any way for participation in this podcast. All thoughts and opinions expressed on IDViewpoints are those of the guests and should not be considered medical advice. If you need medical advice or have questions about your treatment or condition, consult with your healthcare provider.

Antimicrobial Resistance - or AMR - is a term most people have likely heard, but few actually know the extent of the deadly threat it poses. Recent reports show that AMR now results in an estimated 700,000 deaths annually, worldwide and is predicted to increase to over 10 million annually by 2050 – surpassing predictions of annual deaths for cancer (8.2 million) and diabetes (1.5 million). Data also shows that the COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated the threat of AMR, due to the many hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19 symptoms who are then treated with antibiotics to reduce chances of contracting secondary bacterial infections, increasing the commonality of resistant bacteria.  

Tune in as Jan Poolman, Head Bacterial Vaccine Discovery and Early Development at Janssen Infectious Diseases and Dr. Steffanie Strathdee, Distinguished Professor, UC San Diego Department of Medicine, Co-Director, Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics and author of The Perfect Predator discuss the potential threats that AMR can pose, and what a potential global action plan to protect against AMR would look like.

The IDViewpoints podcast was created by Janssen. Guests of IDViewpoints are not compensated in any way for participation in this podcast. All thoughts and opinions expressed on IDViewpoints are those of the guests and should not be considered medical advice. If you need medical advice or have questions about your treatment or condition, consult with your healthcare provider.

COVID-19 has certainly been the pressing respiratory topic over the last year, but as temperatures begin to drop, the school season gears up, and adults begin to re-enter the workforce, there are two seasonal infections making their way back: respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) and influenza (flu). While experts generally know what to expect, this year may prove unique. For instance, there was an unusually low level of flu activity reported during the 2020-21 season – which experts are attributing to the measures we took to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduced incidence suggests low levels of exposure to RSV or flu with people now likely to have waning levels of immunity to these viruses. We saw this summer that there was a notable uptick in incidence of RSV, indicating a delayed RSV season, probably as a result of relaxing the pandemic-related social distancing and other measures. These factors collectively contribute to an uncertain winter, with a potentially higher incidence of RSV and flu, leading to more severe symptoms/outcomes from these viruses.

Tune in as Hanneke Schuitemaker, Ph.D., Head of Viral Vaccine Discovery and Translational Medicine and Disease Area Stronghold Leader, Viral Vaccines, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V. and Ann Falsey, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the University Of Rochester School Of Medicine discuss the outlook of the upcoming flu and RSV season, and precautions for high-risk populations such as young children and older adults, as we continue to adjust, worldwide, to the unforeseen outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IDViewpoints podcast was created by Janssen. Guests of IDViewpoints are not compensated in any way for participation in this podcast. All thoughts and opinions expressed on IDViewpoints are those of the guests and should not be considered medical advice. If you need medical advice or have questions about your treatment or condition, consult with your healthcare provider.

The COVID-19 crisis has dealt an inconceivable impact to the capacity of health systems and frontline workers and their ability to deliver essential health services. The demand for care in year one of the pandemic for COVID-19 patients was like nothing the world had seen, leaving frontline workers facing the significantly heightened importance of maintaining both preventative and curative services, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, people living with chronic conditions and disabilities, and minorities. As we progress through the second full year of the pandemic, frontline workers are feeling no decline in the demand for care, as the community faces new challenges such as COVID-19 variants and vaccine supply issues. Tune in as Avrum “Avi” Spira, M.D., MSC, Global Head, Lung Cancer Initiative, Johnson & Johnson and John Ly, Advisor and Former Medical Director, Last Mile Health; Hospitalist, Assistant Clinical Professor, and Associate Program Director for Med-Peds Residency at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, discuss the impact of managing one entire year in a pandemic and best practices to implement in year two, as more people look to get vaccinated.

The IDViewpoints podcast was created by Janssen. Guests of IDViewpoints are not compensated in any way for participation in this podcast. All thoughts and opinions expressed on IDViewpoints are those of the guests and should not be considered medical advice. If you need medical advice or have questions about your treatment or condition, consult with your doctor.

Before COVID-19, AIDS was one of the most pressing global health threats we faced.

In June 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the first medical report regarding a deadly new syndrome affecting gay men in Los Angeles. These were the first reported cases of what would become known as AIDS. In the 1980s, an AIDS diagnosis was considered a death sentence, and the concept of people with HIV living long, healthy, and productive lives was virtually inconceivable.

Now, 40 years later, much of this has changed.

Thanks to the efforts of people at every level of the global HIV community, the inspiring passion of advocates everywhere, and the miracles of modern science, HIV has been transformed for many patients from a terminal illness into a chronic, manageable condition. But even with this progress, there are still significant global challenges. Each year, 1.7 million people acquire HIV, a disproportionate number of whom belong to vulnerable and underserved communities worldwide, and many more still struggle to access crucial prevention and treatment services.

Tune in as Dr. Brian Woodfall, Global Head Development, ID, Janssen Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, and Glenda E. Gray, President, and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Co-chair of Janssen’s Imbokodo study, and Co-chair of the South African arm of Janssen’s ENSEMBLE study, discuss the evolution of HIV, the challenges we still face and what we have to look forward to as the world marks 40 years of HIV.

The IDViewpoints podcast was created by Janssen. Guests of IDViewpoints are not compensated in any way for participation in this podcast. All thoughts and opinions expressed on IDViewpoints are those of the guests and should not be considered medical advice. If you need medical advice or have questions about your treatment or condition, consult with your doctor.