Collaborating for Smarter AI Solutions in Oncology at Johnson and Johnson

In an interview with Pharmaceutical Executive, Biljana Naumovic, US President, oncology, solid tumor, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, discussed how the company is responding to growing challenges in cancer care revealed by its Oncology Care Index. With 76% of healthcare providers reporting feeling overwhelmed by the pace of innovation, the index offers critical insights into the barriers physicians face when translating breakthroughs into clinical practice. Naumovic outlined how J&J is using these findings to drive meaningful support for oncologists—through enhanced research access, community-based care models, responsible integration of AI, and targeted efforts to reduce cognitive burden across the care continuum.

Pharmaceutical Executive: AI is seen as a major opportunity, yet adoption remains limited. What role is J&J playing in advancing responsible, equitable integration of AI into oncology practice?

Biljana Naumovic: One key insight from the Oncology Care Index is that many people recognize AI’s potential to provide significant support—especially in streamlining workflows and speeding up decision-making. However, it’s also clear that there’s a lack of understanding about what AI can truly do, and many have not been fully introduced to its possibilities.

At J&J, we are involved in several initiatives, including clinical trials where AI helps streamline patient recruitment by identifying gaps and working to close them. But no single company can unlock AI’s full potential alone. This is why collaboration across the entire community and all stakeholders is essential. We need interconnected databases that allow AI to operate on shared, equitable data lakes.

Already, various community practices are exploring how to implement AI algorithms to support better, faster decision-making—particularly by linking AI tools to clinical guidelines like those from the NCCN. This collaborative approach is something we support strongly.

Ultimately, AI integration must be open and inclusive. I don’t believe any one company can solve it alone.

Full Interview Summary: Johnson & Johnson (J&J) launched the Oncology Care Index to better understand the mounting pressures oncologists face amid rapid innovation—highlighting that 76% of healthcare providers feel overwhelmed. In 2024 alone, the FDA approved 50 new indications and 11 new molecular entities, underscoring the urgent need to translate breakthroughs into practical care. J&J uses the index not as a self-promotional tool but as a catalyst for industry-wide dialogue around care delivery, implementation of innovation, and systemic barriers.

Two insights from the index stood out: the difficulty community oncologists face in accessing clinical research and the fragmentation in the continuum of care as patients transition between treatment centers. To address these, J&J is expanding access to community-based clinical trials and co-developing protocols with community providers, particularly in areas like multiple myeloma and lung cancer. They're also pushing for policy changes that support non-academic trial sites. At the same time, the company is investing in training and infrastructure to ensure continuity of care and appropriate treatment closer to patients’ homes.

J&J sees artificial intelligence (AI) as a major opportunity to alleviate provider burden but acknowledges that true adoption requires collaboration across the ecosystem. The company is leveraging AI to improve trial recruitment and streamline decision-making but stresses the need for open, connected databases and industry-wide alignment.

To combat burnout and cognitive overload, J&J is focused on delivering timely, contextualized education and CME programs, supporting advanced practice providers and nurses, and enhancing patient support services.

Looking ahead, J&J hopes to see decreased provider overwhelm and more seamless integration of innovation into care, driven by empowered community oncologists, improved transitions of care, and greater engagement of frontline healthcare workers in both research and treatment delivery.