Dr. Viktor Pavelić is Medical Lead for Oncology, Plasma-Derived Therapies and Rare Diseases at Takeda Switzerland. He studied microbiology, holds a PhD in tumor immunology in Berne and has 14 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, of which more than 10 years have been in Medical Affairs positions.
R: Dr. Viktor Pavelić, Takeda is supporting Oncology Compass (OC) to create a space for the hematological malignancy, multiple myeloma. What was your company’s primary reason to join the ranks of our main Oncology Sponsors?
V: First of all, Takeda is a patient-focused, R&D-driven, global pharmaceutical company that is committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients. That’s why we are highly motivated to support meaningful initiatives that bring value to physicians and patients. The OC is a very valuable medical-scientific platform containing publications relevant for practice as well as the latest clinical data, selected by an independent board of physicians who are experts in that field.
R: So far, the platform has been focused only on solid tumors.
V: There is a high unmet need in hematological malignancies as well. Worldwide, these account for about 6-9% of all cancers. One of these malignancies is multiple myeloma, a blood cancer of the plasma cells. Multiple myeloma has a particularly complex and fast-moving treatment landscape. In addition, Takeda has been dedicated to this field for nearly two decades, and together with the hemato-oncology community we are raising expectations for the future. For these reasons, supporting OC as a main sponsor was an obvious step for us.
R: I gather it was an important reason that the review board is absolutely independent?
V: This is indeed important. The selection of the publications and latest clinical data is ensured by an independent board of clinical experts and thus, will be even more relevant and valuable to the HCP community.
R: Based on this premise, would you agree that more pharma companies should involve themselves in the Oncology Compass?
V: Yes, if a medical-scientific initiative can add value and meet an unmet need, I believe that pharma companies generally evaluate and consider supporting such projects. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about bringing value to the patients, and we are all fighting for the same cause: to fight cancer. And at Takeda we aspire to cure cancer.
R: Takeda was founded over 240 years ago in Japan. It came to Switzerland in 1986. Is there anything specific how Japanese work culture influences how the Swiss branch operates?
V: Absolutely. I would especially highlight that we are living our set of values, the so-called Takeda-ism, our corporate philosophy. It comprises Integrity, Fairness, Honesty and Perseverance. And we bring these values to life through actions based on Patient-Trust-Reputation-Business, in that order. These principles are deeply ingrained in our ways of working and ensure that we’re doing the right things and putting the patient in the center of everything we do, at all times.
R: You often interact with Oncologists in your daily work – what would your Oncology experts be looking for in the OC?
V: Oncology is a highly scientific and fast-moving field. Hence, in their daily practice oncologists are interested mostly in accessing data that is clinically meaningful and practically relevant for a certain cancer type. They want to do this in a consolidated way, getting data from the latest clinical trials presented at congresses that have an impact in daily practice for their patients now and in the future. The OC enables this in a quick, convenient and effective way. Especially in multiple myeloma, having such a fast-moving and complex treatment landscape, this is highly relevant.
R: Will you personally use the OC, Dr. Pavelić?
V: Oh, definitely. I’m very excited and looking forward to seeing which clinical data are perceived as most interesting and valuable from clinical and practical point of view for the HCP community and the patients.
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