Patients Are at the Heart of Everything We Do

Sponsored by Genmab

For this Interview with the Innovators series, several interviews were conducted with executives and scientists from Genmab, an international biotech company with 24 years of experience in developing cutting- edge antibodies and antibody technology. The participants discussed a diverse range of topics, including the company’s ability to develop products at scale to serve the entire range of stakeholders in the healthcare eco system, the importance of Genmab’s data- and science-driven approach to research, and the innovative corporate culture at the heart of the company’s evolution.

The following is an edited transcript from the sixth interview, in which Jenny Fox, National Field Director, Oncology Nurse Educator, Genmab; Wendy Interiano, Director of Patient Services Strategy, Genmab; Mark Peters II, Senior Director of Patient Advocacy, Genmab; and Shannon Stempkowski, Senior Director of Market Access Marketing, Genmab, discuss Genmab’s vision and approach to developing innovative support programs and advocacy initiatives to support people with cancer, incorporating the patient voice at every step of the way. https://ampmed.site/genmab-patients-are-at-the-heart-of-everything-we-do

Mark Peters: My name is Mark Peters. I am the Senior Director, Patient Advocacy and Professional Relations, and I joined Genmab because of the people, the culture, and the science.

Shannon Stempkowski: My name is Shannon Stempkowski. I’m the Senior Director of Market Access Marketing here at Genmab, and there are three reasons I joined the organization. One, Genmab was founded in research and has a solid history of research in antibody-based therapeutics and molecules that have made a difference in patients’ lives for many years. Two, the leadership and culture here felt like a place where I could really continue to grow, and also enjoy working here. Three, the therapeutic area of focus here at Genmab is not only solid tumors, but also hematologic cancers, and that’s an area of personal interest for me, and I’m excited to be part of it.

Jenny Fox: My name is Jenny Fox and I’m the National Director for the Patient Engagement Liaisons, and I joined Genmab because of their commitment to bringing innovative and life-changing treatments to patients who need it the most.

Wendy Interiano: My name is Wendy Interiano. I am the Director of Patient Services and Reimbursement Strategy. I joined Genmab because of the patient-centered approach to everything we do, which enables me to do rewarding work each and every day.

Genmab Vision

Shannon Stempkowski: Genmab has a vision to create antibody medicines that transform the lives of people with cancer and other serious diseases. With a robust pipeline grounded in our innovative technology platforms, we’re building a strong foundation for the future. Also, at Genmab, we are proud of our commitment to support the needs of patients and their care partners.

Translating vision into action

Mark Peters: Patients and care partners are at the center of all we do at Genmab. Our efforts are aimed at helping patients better understand the science behind our medicines and technology.

The patient perspective

Mark Peters: At Genmab, we believe we can positively impact the lives of patients through supporting programs that provide disease education, and peer-to-peer education, deeply integrating the patient perspective into our work. Our patient advisory council is critical. Hearing directly from patients is an important way to advise our work from early clinical development through how we bring our medicines to patients. We also find unique ways to bring the patient voice and experience to our workforce to inspire new thinking and to renew our commitment to patients. Additionally, we also know it’s important to help inform patients and patient advocates on our science. We ensure patient advocates have all the information they need to help patients through their experience.

Shannon Stempkowski: We recognize that navigating the healthcare system and gaining access to groundbreaking therapies can be challenging for patients, especially in complex and serious diseases such as cancer. As we move to bring our medicines to patients, we’re developing a strong infrastructure to help support access for all appropriate patients, taking a personalized approach for each person.

Wendy Interiano: Genmab provides comprehensive resources, services, and support to help patients access Genmab medications through MyNavCare patient support. MyNavCare has been designed to provide an excellent customer experience by offering financial assistance for eligible patients, coverage and billing information, as well as access-related tools to help healthcare providers support their patients. Finally, MyNavCare offers ongoing support through the patient engagement liaisons, who will be available for patients and care partners through their treatment experience.

Patient Engagement Liaisons

Jenny Fox: After enrollment into the MyNavCare Program, the patient engagement liaisons [PELs] can provide patients and care partners with ongoing compassionate, empathybased support, and additional resources. For example, the PELs can offer general information about the patient’s condition and what to expect from treatment, and self-monitoring recommendations. They do not provide medical advice or work under the direction of the prescribing healthcare providers. They’re trained to direct patients to speak with their healthcare provider about their condition and any treatment-related questions. To summarize, the PEL’s goal is to empower patients and care partners throughout their treatment journey with tools, resources, and support to optimize the patient experience.

Genmab’s ongoing commitment

Mark Peters: Driven by our passion for the patient, our purpose is to continue delivering unrivaled patient experiences. Genmab seeks to empower patients throughout their treatment experience by supporting patient organizations and continuously instilling the patient perspective in our daily work.

Shannon Stempkowski: As you can see at Genmab, through our patient advocacy and patient support services programs, we incorporate the patient voice in everything we do. Patients are truly at the heart of everything we do. Our patient-centered vision supported by our core values, a passion for innovation, integrity, and determination inspires us to do what is best for patients, care partners, and the medical professionals who care for them each and every day.