Can a $4 Million Gene Therapy be 'Affordable?' California Tackles the Question Next Week

It's all part of the stem cell/gene therapy's priority funding review

Word cloud graphic derived from CIRM’s basic priority review document

California’s $12 billion stem cell and gene therapy program wrestles next Wednesday with a proposal to make its yet-to-be-realized and astronomically expensive treatments accessible and affordable to all Californians. 

It is not a new problem for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), as the program is officially known. Indeed, the agency has a legal mandate to come up with an affordability solution. What is new is that it is being addressed in the context of a wide-ranging, priority review of CIRM’s clinical stage research funding  -- $3.9  billion worth.

Next week’s session is likely to significantly affect researchers and companies seeking funding for late-stage clinical trials. Patient advocates additionally have something major at stake. They all should be prepared to speak up and make the case for their concerns or in writing before the meeting. (See agenda for instructions.)

On the table for 90 minutes during the public, online meeting are eight key questions.