Cell and Gene Therapy: Advancing the Next Generation of Pharmaceuticals

The global pharmaceutical industry is constantly innovating, looking forward to discover the next class of therapies to treat and cure patients around the world. Cell and gene therapies, which fall into the broader category of drugs known as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) have emerged as an incredibly promising class of treatments that have shown the ability to treat and even cure many individuals with diseases for which there was little to no hope. Cell and gene therapies work by substituting the missing protein or cells causing the disease’s symptoms. Cell therapy treats diseases by restoring or altering certain sets of cells or by using cells to carry a therapy through the body. Gene therapy operates differently by replacing, inactivating or introducing genes into cells— either inside the body (in vivo) or outside of the body (ex vivo). Some therapies are considered both cell and gene therapies. These therapies work by modifying genes in specific types of cells and inserting them into the body. Current market forecasts predict the cell and gene therapy market to grow by almost $10B by 2026. A compound annual growth rate of more than 20%. American Pharmaceutical Review and Pharmaceutical Outsourcing magazine spoke with industry experts to learn how cell and gene therapies are changing the healthcare landscape and what needs to be done to bring these advanced therapies to patients.