Incyte’s Commitment to Solve On. for the Blood Cancer Community

Every September, the global oncology community comes together to recognize Blood Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) and to bring much-needed attention to the more than 100 different types of blood cancers, [i] which affect 1.24 million people worldwide each year. [ii]

At Incyte, our commitment to the blood cancer community extends throughout the year. We often talk about how we Solve On. and pursue science that has the potential to meet patient needs. But what does this mean, and how does the work we do inside our walls translate into impact for patients with blood cancer and other serious diseases?

Peg Squier, M.D., Ph.D., Group Vice President of U.S. Medical Affairs, shares more about her team and how they draw inspiration from the patients they are seeking to help as they work every day to Solve On.

How would you describe what you do in Medical Affairs to friends and family?

All functions at Incyte play a critical and unique role in supporting the advancement of our science to help ensure our medicines reach patients who need them. In Medical Affairs, we provide information about our medicines to people who treat patients and conduct research. Additionally, we ensure that information from patients and their providers gets back to Incyte, which enables us to improve and better design new treatments.

How has your work impacted patients with blood cancer?

My team plays an integral role in empowering physicians in the oncology community to propose their own studies to test our medications in new settings, including in different cancers and in combination with other treatments. The results from these investigator-initiated studies may offer the oncology community incremental clues that help us all move forward in a more impactful way, or they can lead to groundbreaking advancements that have the potential to change the standard of care and improve patients’ lives.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

There is nothing better than working hard, with people you care about, on something that matters. Cancer ultimately touches us all, and we understand how important it is to find solutions for those who face it. There has never been a time in history where there have been more people with more talent pitted against cancer than there is now, and Incyte is at the forefront of revealing cancer’s secrets, bit by bit. There is momentum gained every day, and it is humbling to know that the progress we make is helping those facing serious diseases, including blood cancers.

One story about the impact of our work that has stuck with me was when my friend and colleague was hugged at church by a total stranger after he learned that my colleague worked on the development team for the medication he was taking. That hug still reverberates through our team today. For me, when I am facing challenges in my work, the memory of that hug helps inspire me and reminds me of my purpose. I cannot imagine the stranger knew how many people he would reach with that hug, but his act of kindness and gratitude continues to fuel us as we work to discover and develop medicines for other patients in need.

What does Solve On. mean to you? 

For me, Solve On. means persevering through complexity, which is something we specialize in at Incyte. We are not afraid to study diseases that are difficult if we think our medicines could make a difference. As a result, we have made real progress in understanding some of the most difficult and complex biologic problems, including rare blood cancers, many of which have limited or no approved therapies.

During Blood Cancer Awareness Month, we acknowledge that patients with blood cancers still face many challenges, and we are committed to supporting and finding solutions for them. We Solve On.

[i] Blood Cancer UK. Facts and information about blood cancer. Available at: https://bloodcancer.org.uk/news/blood-cancer-facts/. Accessed September 20, 2022.

[ii] Shapira, S., Kazanov, D., Mdah, F., Yaakobi, H., Herishanu, Y., Perry, C., ... & Arber, N. (2021). Feasibly of CD24/CD11b as a Screening Test for Hematological Malignancies. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(8), 724.