Joint collaborations and future perspectives for gene therapies.
Cell & Gene Therapy Insights 2020; 6(7), 965–983
10.18609/cgti.2020.107
High cost innovative medicines increasingly seeking market access and reaching the market are further challenging national healthcare systems already dealing with finite, constrained budgets and resources. Since 2012, European countries have begun to establish joint collaborations to conduct information sharing, horizon scanning, joint assessments, joint negotiations, and joint procurements in healthcare. More than 30 European countries have partnered together in 13 joint collaborations, 11 targeting innovative medicines, 1 targeting biosimilars, and 1 targeting vaccines. The aim of these joint collaborations is to increase bargaining and purchasing power while ensuring patient access and maintaining sustainable healthcare systems. As of today, only 2 joint collaborations, BeNeLuxA and FINOSE, have published the outcomes of their joint activities - joint assessments of innovative gene therapies. While such joint collaborations are still young, an examination of their establishment and outcomes may be insightful as to their implications for market access of gene therapies, healthcare systems, and future perspectives.