Getting The System Ready: Enabling Investment In Community Hospitals To Improve Patient Access To Cell And Gene Therapies: Part 2

By Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, Managing Director, Cell & Gene therapy lead; Rahul Mirchandani, Management Consultant, Life Sciences at Accenture Life Sciences, and Joe DePinto, Head of Cell, Gene & Advanced Therapies at McKesson

Patient access remains a significant obstacle for cell and gene therapies (CGTs), a challenge exacerbated by the already strained healthcare system and the emergence of advanced therapies, including CGT 2.0. As Roger Stone, CEO of City of Hope, states, the hope created by these innovations is overshadowed by a widening access gap, emphasizing that a patient's first chance at a cure is their best chance. Therefore, the focus must be on delivering the right treatments to the right individuals at the right time and in accessible locations.

To effectively navigate the complex operational challenges of delivering CGTs in community hospitals, the biopharma industry must address key strategic questions. These include analyzing how geographic considerations impact patient access and clinical outcomes, establishing cross-functional teams to assess patient eligibility, overcoming infrastructure and capability challenges to facilitate patient treatment, and implementing robust mechanisms for timely reimbursement. A crucial step is defining clear entrance criteria for selecting suitable community hospitals, encompassing location, patient access, partnerships, medical and operational capabilities, and financial and business considerations. These themes can serve as a framework for successfully integrating CGTs into community hospital settings.