Breaking Barriers to Cell and Gene Therapy Access

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.

InspiroGene by McKesson shares the hope and responsibility of bringing these scientific breakthroughs to more people. 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.

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.

“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.”

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.

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 include:

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 an interactive map, 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 on 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.”