AbbVie Emotional Impact Report Details Experiences of Underrepresented Patient Groups with CLL

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AbbVie released the results of its latest Emotional Impact Report (EIR), which focuses on the mental health of patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).¹ The findings, which were presented as part the 66^th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, detailed the perspectives of various underrepresented patient groups, such as Hispanic, Black, and Asian patients.

The results showed that these patients are much more likely to seek out educational and emotional support resources that are designed with their own cultural beliefs in mind. These patients are also more likely to feel comfortable seeing a doctor of their own ethnicity.

In a press release, AbbVie’s vice president of oncology discovery research Andy Souers, PhD, said, “Patients with CLL often grapple with the psychological burden of living with a slow-growing cancer, which can affect their mental health and overall well-being, regardless of their ethnic background. With the Emotional Impact Report, we wanted to lead the charge of looking at perspectives from underrepresented patients with CLL to better understand their unique needs. To fix the challenges, you must first illuminate them. We are committed to working with the community to gain a better understanding and meet the needs of all patients with CLL."

Reggie Ware, CEO of BlackDoctor.org, spoke at AbbVie’s panel event where the results were presented. In the press release, he said, “As someone who has spent their entire career working to educate and inspire Black Americans to make better health decisions, I see AbbVie's Emotional Impact Report as a step in the right direction to highlight the specific emotional challenges experienced by minorities impacted by blood cancer. Collecting representative insights helps ensure that all voices are heard, and all experiences are acknowledged."

The CLL Society’s chief medical officer, Brian Koffman, MD, also spoke at the event. In the same press release, he added, “Having someone to talk to about their treatment goals and emotional needs is crucial for patients with CLL. It provides them with a sense of support and understanding, which is vital in helping them navigate the emotional complexities of their diagnosis and treatment. Knowing they are not alone can help empower them to face their journey with greater resilience and hope."

In October, AbbVie announced a partnership with EvolveImmune Therapeutics, a company developing new therapies for cancer cells that are resistant to current immunotherapies.²

In a press release issued at the time, AbbVie senior vice president and global head of discovery research Jonathon Sedgwick, PhD, said, “AbbVie is dedicated to advancing the understanding of devastating diseases like cancer and investing in groundbreaking technologies and therapeutic platforms, to deliver novel treatments for patients with high unmet needs. We are excited to collaborate with the talented team at EvolveImmune to further advance their novel T-cell engager platform technology."

EvolveImmune’s chief executive officer Stephen Bloch, MD, said, “This collaboration with AbbVie, a global leader in oncology, offers tremendous validation of the EVOLVE platform and the dedicated and creative work of the EvolveImmune team. We believe that EVOLVE, with its differentiated CD2 co-stimulation strategy, represents a potential next-generation, best-in-class T-cell engager platform and that our technology may offer clinically meaningful benefits for patients."

Sources

1. AbbVie Announces Emotional Impact Report on Mental Health of Underrepresented CLL Cancer Patients. AbbVie. December 8, 2024. https://news.abbvie.com/2024-12-08-AbbVie-Announces-Emotional-Impact-Report-on-Mental-Health-of-Underrepresented-CLL-Cancer-Patients
2. AbbVie and EvolveImmune Therapeutics Announce Collaboration and Option-to-License Agreement to Develop Next-Generation Cancer Biotherapeutics. AbbVie. October 31, 2024. Accessed December 10, 2024. https://news.abbvie.com/2024-10-31-AbbVie-and-EvolveImmune-Therapeutics-Announce-Collaboration-and-Option-to-License-Agreement-to-Develop-Next-Generation-Cancer-Biotherapeutics