Johnson & Johnson Launches RYBREVANT® (Amivantamab) in China, Introducing an Innovative Bispecific Antibody to Transform Lung Cancer Treatment

On April 12, 2025, Johnson & Johnson announced that its innovative lung cancer treatment drug, Ryveci (Amivantamab Injection), has officially launched in China. Ryveci, administered in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed, can be used for the first-line treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer confirmed to carry epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations. The launch of Ryveci is expected to reshape the landscape of lung cancer treatment in China, fully demonstrating Johnson & Johnson's firm commitment to lung cancer patients.

Carestream officially launched in China

Cherry Huang, President of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Pharmaceuticals, China, Delivers a Speech
Rui Ke is a fully human bispecific antibody targeting both EGFR and MET, the abnormal pathways of which are important causes of drug resistance in lung cancer patients. Rui Ke activates immune cells through extracellular binding and works synergistically with intracellular-acting drugs to exert anti-tumor effects while mobilizing the immune system to combat tumors, bringing long-term benefits to patients. Results from a randomized, open-label, PAPILLON Phase III clinical study showed that compared with chemotherapy alone, amivantamab combined with chemotherapy reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 61%. The study also observed that the median PFS in the Asian subgroup was 14.1 months.

Dr. Guangyuan Liu, Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Pharmaceuticals China and Head of Medical Affairs, shared
Meanwhile, according to the latest Phase III MARIPOSA study data presented at the 2025 European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC), the combination of Amivantamab and Lazertinib demonstrated positive results in overall survival (OS), showing statistically and clinically significant improvements. Compared to Osimertinib, the median OS improvement exceeded one year. This breakthrough outcome further establishes the combination of Amivantamab and Lazertinib as a new standard of care for patients with EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC.
Adhering to the principle of putting patients first, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Pharmaceuticals will continue to explore and collaborate with relevant institutions to help more lung cancer patients benefit from innovative treatments, further improving patient survival outcomes. With the launch of Rikewei, the patient assistance program initiated by the China Cancer Foundation will also be launched simultaneously, providing drug assistance to eligible non-small cell lung cancer patients to enhance the accessibility and affordability of innovative drugs in China.

Ms. Fu Fenghuan, Vice Chairperson of the China Cancer Foundation and former Deputy Director of the National Cancer Center, delivered a speech.

Carestream Patient Assistance Program Officially Launched
Lung cancer is the number one cancer "killer" in China, ranking first in both incidence and mortality rates. Statistics show that there are over 1 million new cases of lung cancer in China each year, accounting for more than one-third of the total number of lung cancer patients worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type, with a five-year survival rate of only 20%. For patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, the five-year survival rate is even less than 10%. Among them, 25%-40% of patients with EGFR mutations cannot proceed to second-line treatment due to severe disease progression. Therefore, providing more effective treatment options during the first-line treatment phase is crucial.

Professor Zhou Caicun, Director of the Oncology Department at Shanghai East Hospital and Director of the Oncology Research Institute at Tongji University School of Medicine, delivered a speech.
As the global leading researcher of the PAPILLON study, Professor Cai-Cun Zhou, Director of the Oncology Department at Shanghai East Hospital and Director of the Oncology Institute at Tongji University School of Medicine, stated: “NSCLC patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations have limited efficacy with currently approved third-generation EGFR-TKI targeted drugs and chemotherapy. These patients generally have a poor prognosis and face dual challenges in survival time and quality of life. Amivantamab, as a bispecific antibody targeting EGFR and c-MET, simultaneously binds to these two targets, blocking signaling pathways in tumor cells and effectively inhibiting the growth and proliferation of tumor cells. This significantly improves the poor prognosis and short survival period faced by cancer patients. It not only provides a new first-line treatment option for patients with advanced NSCLC carrying EGFR exon 20 insertions but also further advances China's lung cancer diagnosis and treatment system towards precision, efficiency, and individualization.”

Professor Li Weimin, Dean of the Institute of Respiratory and Comorbid Diseases at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, delivered a speech.
Professor Li Weimin, Dean of the Institute of Respiratory and Comorbidity at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, pointed out: "Precision treatment is the core of lung cancer treatment and the key to improving patient survival rates. With the launch of Amivantamab, Chinese patients with EGFR ex20ins mutation in advanced NSCLC will officially move away from the 'pure chemotherapy era' during the first-line treatment phase, entering a new stage of targeted combination therapy. This provides an important reference direction for the future research and treatment strategies of lung cancer in China. It is expected that as more clinical applications are explored, Amivantamab will bring continuous benefits to a broader population of NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations and will further reshape the landscape of lung cancer treatment."
In the field of treatment for EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC, the innovative value of Amivantamab is expanding from rare targets to classic mutations, continuously demonstrating transformative potential. Professor Shi Meiqi from Jiangsu Cancer Hospital commented on the latest MARIPOSA study findings: "For patients with EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC, any new therapy that extends survival by more than a year represents broader treatment prospects and greater hope for survival. The MARIPOSA study shows that the combination of Amivantamab and Lazertinib has the potential to become the first regimen in the first-line treatment of EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC to demonstrate clear overall survival benefits compared to the current standard third-generation TKI treatment. This breakthrough is not only highly innovative but may also reshape future lung cancer treatment strategies, leading patients with EGFR mutations into a new era of long-term survival benefits."
Cherry Huang, President of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Pharmaceuticals China, stated: "Patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer have long faced the dilemma of limited treatment options and efficacy. The launch of Rykewa brings new hope for these patients, with the potential to break through survival barriers. We will also continue to expand our lung cancer product pipeline, allowing more innovative treatments to benefit patients in China. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Pharmaceuticals in China. As a science-driven innovative pharmaceutical company, we have always prioritized patients. Moving forward, we will continue to collaborate closely with all stakeholders in the industry to provide comprehensive, full-cycle disease management for more patients, transforming cancer into a controllable and curable chronic condition, while leading the exploration of the possibility of curing cancer."
China has a large base of lung cancer patients, with significant unmet medical needs. While Johnson & Johnson Innovative Pharmaceuticals actively explores more innovative therapies, it will also officially launch the first Lung Cancer Patient Day. This event will bring together multidisciplinary authoritative experts, healthcare professionals, renowned scholars, patient platforms, and other parties to jointly build a comprehensive, multi-dimensional communication platform. It aims to formally establish a "patient-centered" innovative pharmaceutical ecosystem for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, enhance public scientific awareness of lung cancer, and provide full-cycle care for patients throughout their treatment journey.

The Diagnosis and Treatment Ecosystem for Lung Cancer Patients in China Officially Established
At the First Johnson & Johnson Innovation Pharmaceutical Lung Cancer Patient Day event, various sectors of society engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge concepts in current cancer treatment. From the perspective of lung cancer patient treatment itself, efficiently and accurately detecting gene mutations in non-small cell lung cancer patients is a prerequisite for providing more precise treatment plans. With advancements in molecular biology research and precision medicine technology, targeted therapies for specific gene mutations—such as EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer patients—have significantly improved survival rates. Meanwhile, the industry is undergoing a critical transition from "having drugs available" to "optimizing drug use," which requires the joint participation of all sectors of society to build a truly patient-centered precision medicine ecosystem. By establishing standardized disease management systems, patient treatment adherence can be enhanced.

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Pharmaceuticals Lung Cancer Patient Day Roundtable Discussion
Beyond treatment, patients also face higher-level needs including psychological care, social support, and improved quality of life. Currently, lung cancer disease management in China not only encompasses more precise and personalized treatment approaches but also places greater emphasis on patients' mental health and quality of life. While pursuing breakthroughs in diagnostic and treatment technologies, efforts should actively focus on building a full-chain support system of ‘treatment-rehabilitation-reintegration’ and a three-dimensional platform that integrates professional support with humanistic care to help patients regain confidence. Notably, in the patient-centered whole-course disease management, there is an urgent need to construct a multi-level and diversified innovative payment system. Through value-based healthcare payment reform, this ensures the accessibility of innovative treatments to maximize patient benefits.

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Pharmaceuticals Lung Cancer Patient Day Roundtable Discussion