In this column, Dr Henar Hevia, Senior Director and EMEA Therapeutic Head, Oncology, J&J Innovative Medicine, proposes that the future of oncology depends not just on discovery, but on turning data into better decisions for patients
Words by Dr Henar Hevia
With cancer cases projected to rise to nearly 28 million globally by 2040, we are entering a new phase in oncology where innovation alone is not enough. The real challenge, or opportunity, now lies in how we translate that innovation into meaningful, consistent improvements in patient care.
An evolving oncology landscape
With more than 22 years of experience working across oncology innovation, I have seen first-hand how quickly our field is evolving. Advances in innovative therapies, cutting-edge technologies and increasingly sophisticated biomarker-driven approaches are transforming our understanding of cancer biology and individual treatment response.
In multiple myeloma, for example, survival has shifted dramatically from around three years historically to more than ten years in settings with access to innovation. Similarly, biomarker-driven approaches have extended survival for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harbouring certain genetic mutations, from less than one year before targeted therapies to over four years today. And even in cancers such as colorectal and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, where unmet needs remain high, advances in molecular understanding are delivering new hope.
The gap between innovation and clinical practice
The pace of scientific progress is extraordinary – but it can also be overwhelming. We are generating more data than ever before. Yet this wealth of information, coupled with evolving treatment guidelines, is adding a new layer of complexity to clinical decision-making. The gap is no longer one of discovery, but one of interpretation and implementation.
This is where the role of the oncology community must evolve. We need to reframe research and clinical practice, not as distinct domains, but rather part of a continuous cycle of evidence generation, exchange and application. In today’s oncology landscape, progress is no longer defined solely by the therapies we develop, but by how effectively we enable their use.
The gap is no longer one of discovery, but one of interpretation and implementation
Harnessing RWE to improve patient outcomes
Real-world evidence (RWE) and more personalised approaches have an important role to play. Clinical trials, while essential, are conducted in controlled environments and often include selected patient populations. They provide the foundation – but not the full picture – of how therapies perform in everyday clinical practice. Real-world data (RWD) helps to fill this gap, offering insights into effectiveness, tolerability and outcomes across broader and more diverse populations.
Initiatives such as Johnson & Johnson’s federated data network, HONEUR (the Haematology Outcomes Network Europe), are helping generate these kinds of insights, bringing together RWD to better understand treatment patterns, outcomes and unmet needs in routine care. When combined with robust scientific dialogue and collaboration among oncologists and other care team members, this type of evidence enables more informed decision-making.
Shaping the next era of oncology
Looking ahead, it is critical to expand these approaches across tumour types so real-world insights can better guide decision-making across oncology.
The call to action is clear: we must move beyond generating innovation to shaping how it is understood and applied. This requires ongoing scientific exchange, knowledge-sharing and education. This is a shared responsibility across academia, industry, and healthcare systems.
For those working across healthcare delivery, medical research and medical affairs within the pharmaceutical industry, this means acting as strategic partners in care, ensuring innovation reaches its full potential where it matters most: in patients’ lives.
