In today’s new era of medicine, breakthrough treatments are revolutionizing how we fight disease, providing hope to patient populations that 20 years ago could never have dreamed of using the word “cure” when talking about their conditions. From cancer treatments using genetically modified genes called CAR-T, to advanced, personalized gene therapies, biopharmaceutical researchers are advancing the definition of what is possible at a record-setting rate.
But for patients who can’t access these treatments, this progress is irrelevant. Dealing with chronic and acute illness is hard enough – no patient should have to also fight to secure the medicines they need. This topic was the subject of a recent discussion at Aspen Spotlight Health, moderated by Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America, featuring Jeff Marrazzo, co-founder and CEO of Spark Therapeutics; Gary Reedy, CEO of the American Cancer Society; and Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The panel collectively delved into potential solutions to the challenge of balancing innovation and affordability in today’s health care environment.