As we begin the new year and prepare to kick off 2022 at the virtual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference next week, I’ve been reflecting on the significant transformation the past year represented for Jazz Pharmaceuticals. When I think back on 2021, it’s hard to believe how much our teams achieved in the face of so many ever-evolving personal and societal challenges related to the pandemic. And yet, when I think about the deeply talented and passionate people at every level of our organization, perhaps it’s not hard to believe at all. I’m incredibly proud of the ways I’ve seen our team come together and perform at the highest caliber as we continue to do important work for our patients, their families and our communities.
I want to first look back on a few key achievements over the past year as our teams have continued their focus on patients with high unmet needs and pursued innovative and differentiated medicines, which are life-changing and in some cases life-saving therapies that establish new or better standards of care in both neuroscience and oncology. I want to give special recognition to the teams that helped build on our leadership in neuroscience and the expansion of our organization with the addition of GW Pharmaceuticals. This acquisition greatly bolstered our diverse neuroscience portfolio, which includes marketed medicines and novel product candidates from early- to late-stage development. I talked back in May about the cultural alignment between Jazz and GW and the ways our strengths complement each other. Today, I am thrilled to see the collaborative accomplishments coming through the integration of our teams, made possible by the countless individuals who have helped us seamlessly bring together and partner across our organization.
In 2021 we also achieved our goal of delivering five new medicines in two years and made significant progress in advancing key programs in our pipeline. In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new therapeutic option for acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma in patients who had significant need for a reliable treatment. We are excited to bring forward this important treatment for patients in critical need, and I want to thank our collaborators within the Children’s Oncology Group, the clinical trial investigators, patients, and their families, and all of the other stakeholders who helped us achieve this significant milestone. Later, in August, FDA approved the first ever therapeutic option to treat a debilitating sleep disorder known as idiopathic hypersomnia (IH). This represents a major step forward for the estimated 37,000 people diagnosed with IH in the U.S. and helps provide a meaningful advancement for patients living with the condition and their healthcare teams.
Jazz continued to launch new educational programs in 2021 aimed at providing U.S. patients and caregivers with the resources they need to make informed decisions with their healthcare teams. We partnered with the Hypersomnia Foundation to launch I Have IH, a campaign to raise awareness for patients living with IH. This work has been enthusiastically received by the IH community, bolstered by patient testimonials and critical statistics that show the impact of this debilitating condition. We also developed a groundbreaking campaign aimed at addressing vital small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patient and caregiver needs with Nothing Small About It. This program sparked important conversations around the emotions that people living with SCLC experience throughout their treatment journey. Both initiatives are rooted in our commitment to patient needs and providing industry-leading resources to help them make informed decisions with their families and care teams.
We are entering 2022 with the momentum created by these and many other major milestones over the past year, each reinforcing our passion for developing innovative treatments that help improve the overall quality of life for patients around the world. This year, Jazz will continue innovating to transform the lives of patients and their families and I look forward to discussing our plans for 2022 and beyond in more detail at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference next week. Happy New Year everyone!
