Janssen launches three new research platforms

Janssen has announced the launch of three new research platforms, focused on areas of medical innovation that are expected to change the healthcare landscape.

The first initiative will be the launch of the Janssen Prevention Center, which will focus on the prevention of chronic, non-communicable diseases. It will be headquartered in the Netherlands, with additional labs in the US and UK.

Meanwhile, the Disease Interception Accelerator will be a new, incubator-like group based in the US, dedicated to addressing the root causes of disease. It will use pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical approaches to better understand genetic predisposition, environmental exposure and phenotypic alterations.

Finally, the Janssen Human Microbiome Institute will focus on studying the microbiome – the diverse population of bacteria living within and on the human body – to establish new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.

Dr William Hait, global head of Janssen's research and development division, said: "It is our responsibility to drive innovation that makes a difference to patients and ensures the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems."

This comes after the company allied with the UK's National Institute for Health Research earlier this month to study reasons why current rheumatoid arthritis therapies are not as effective as they could be.