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Breaking Barriers to Cell and Gene Therapy Access

Explore the latest trends shaping the future of cell and gene therapy and learn what’s needed to ensure innovation reaches patients.

Date

October 02, 2025

Read Time

3 minutes

A doctor in a white coat speaks with a patient in a bright hallway.

Key Points 

  • Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) are reshaping the practice of medicine today and, in some cases, offer the possibility of a cure for serious diseases such as lymphoma, multiple myeloma and sickle cell disease.
  • InspiroGene by McKesson (InspiroGene) delivers complex cell and gene therapies directly to patients and providers, advancing innovative treatment delivery.
  • InspiroGene’s second annual Cell and Gene Therapy Report highlights progress and the work ahead to address systemic hurdles slowing widespread CGT adoption.
  • As the report makes clear, scientific promise doesn’t automatically translate to patient access.
  • The 2025 report includes new survey data from payers and providers and examines barriers  from geography to cost, coordination to commercialization  along with potential solutions. 

Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) are no longer just the promise of tomorrow; they are reshaping the practice of medicine today. 

CGTs are transforming care, offering better health outcomes, and in some cases, even the possibility of a cure, for people with serious diseases such as lymphoma, multiple myeloma and sickle cell disease. 

Why access matters 

CGTs are among the most important innovations of our time, and every new approval expands the horizon of what’s possible. 

However, as the report makes clear: scientific promise doesn’t automatically translate to patient access. 

What the report covers 

The publication of InspiroGene’s second annual Cell and Gene Therapy Report highlights both the incredible progress seen and the work ahead to address the systemic hurdles slowing widespread CGT adoption.

Through original physician and payer research, as well as exclusive insights from leading industry experts, the report identifies the challenges that patients, providers, payers and biopharma companies face, as well as potential solutions to overcome them.

The findings highlight not only where the CGT field is today, but what must be done next to bring these therapies to more patients.

“Cell and gene therapies are moving from the unimaginable to the inevitable, with promising new treatments pushing into earlier lines of care and expanding into diseases like diabetes and lupus,” said Joe DePinto, head of Cell, Gene and Advanced Therapies at McKesson. “The science is extraordinary, but realizing the full potential depends on scale, access and collaboration. At InspiroGene, we are focused on turning breakthrough discovery into everyday care, so no patient is left behind.”

2025 Cell and Gene Therapy Report: Advancing the Future of Medicine 

From geography to cost, coordination to commercialization, the barriers to CGT access are complex.

The 2025 report includes new survey data from payers and providers, offering fresh insights into how CGTs are being delivered, reimbursed and accessed—and the challenges that remain. 

Key Findings From the 2025 Cell and Gene Therapy Report

60%

60% of surveyed oncologists say they are very familiar with CGTs, compared to 55% in 2024.

2/3

Two-thirds of oncologists still view CGTs as largely unproven.

80%

While 80% of payers believe CGTs are safe and effective, many remain skeptical about high upfront costs and limited long-term data.

66%

66% of oncologists say their patients view CGTs as “too experimental or risky."

25

The average number of patients treated with CGTs has risen from 17 to 25 annually.

60%

60% of payors say innovative payment models could potentially help address these risks.

Geography and ‘CGT deserts’ 

The report also reveals that geography remains one of the biggest barriers to equitable CGT access. 

Most treatment is concentrated in academic medical centers in major metropolitan areas. 

For patients in rural regions, this can mean more than miles traveled; it often requires uprooting daily life for weeks, taking unpaid leave or arranging childcare to receive care. 

Our refreshed analysis of qualified CGT treatment centers across the U.S., depicted in the report and in , shows that “CGT deserts” persist nationwide. 

The report highlights the barriers to advanced care faced by patients and providers in underserved areas and examines strategies to expand treatment into community settings. 

What’s Next for CGT 

With InspiroGene, we bring together our expertise in third-party logistics, specialty distribution, specialty pharmacy and patient support to simplify the complex CGT journey and help remove access barriers for the patients who need these life-changing therapies. 

The future of cell and gene therapy is bright, but progress will require collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem. 

Manufacturers, payers, providers and partners like McKesson will need to align new models for distribution, reimbursement and patient support. 

Only by working together can we create a system ready to deliver these novel therapies at scale. 

“For us, success is measured in the moments when a patient who once had limited options finally has a chance at more time, more health and more hope,” DePinto says. “That’s what drives us, and it’s why we’ll continue to invest in solutions that bring CGTs closer to the people who need them most.”

From pipeline advances to perspectives from providers and payers, access more insights from the 2025 Cell and Gene Therapy report.

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