Availability and financing of CAR-T cell therapies: A cross-country comparative analysis

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CAR-T therapies) are a type of advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) that belong to a new generation of personalised cancer immunotherapies. This paper compares the approval, availability and financing of CAR-T cell therapies in ten countries. It also examines the implementation of this type of ATMP within the health care system, describing the organizational elements of CAR-T therapy delivery and the challenges of ensuring equitable access to all those in need, taking a more systems-oriented view. It finds that the availability of CAR-T therapies varies across countries, reflecting the heterogeneity in the organization and financing of specialised care, particularly oncology care. Countries have been cautious in designing reimbursement models for CAR-T cell therapies, establishing limited managed entry arrangements under public payers, either based on outcomes or as an evidence development scheme to allow for the study of real-world therapeutic efficacy. The delivery model of CAR-T therapies is concentrated around existing experienced cancer centres and highlights the need for high networking and referral capacity. Some countries have transparent and systematic eligibility criteria to help ensure more equitable access to therapies. Overall, as with other pharmaceuticals, there is limited transparency in pricing, eligibility criteria and budgeting decisions in this therapeutic area.

Keywords: Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs); Cancer, Pharmaceutical policy; Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies; Oncology care.