Janssen Immunology Partners with Health Systems to Enhance Diverse Patient Trial Access

Chetan Karyekar, MD, PhD, is Vice President, Clinical Development – Rare Diseases & Rheumatology at the Janssen Pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson. In this role, Dr Karyekar leads a group of physicians and oversees all late development activities across the Rare Disease & Rheumatology pipeline, including design, implementation and reporting for all late-stage Phase II and III clinical trials. Dr Karyekar also leads the Immunology Diversity, Equity & Inclusion enduring alliance team and Co-chairs the J&J enduring alliance pillar dedicated to Scientific and Clinical Partnerships as part of Our Race To Health Equity (ORTHE) initiative. This J&J enterprise initiative aims to eliminate health inequities for people of color. As part of these multiple roles, Dr Karyekar works on developing partnership strategies and novel ways of designing and conducting late development programs that ensure representative patients, including those from diverse backgrounds, are involved in Janssen clinical studies. Dr Karyekar’s professional career spanning over the past 18 years has included leadership positions in early and late development and US and global medical affairs groups at Abbott, BMS, Novartis and Janssen. Dr Karyekar received his MD in Medicine at the University of Mumbai, completed residency from Chicago Medical School and received his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Clinical Pharmacology) from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.