"Addressing the Cost Barrier for Breakthrough Sickle Cell Gene Therapies"

The approval of two gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease has brought hope to patients, but the high cost of the treatments poses a challenge for equitable access. With prices ranging from $2.2 million to $3.1 million, patients like Michael Goodwin are hesitant due to the intensive medical preparation and concerns about affordability. State and federal officials are negotiating with drugmakers to obtain discounts for Medicaid plans, while employers are exploring new payment models to cover the rising costs of specialty treatments. The lack of infrastructure and the high cost of the treatments raise questions about how many people will benefit from them.