Patients, be not afraid: How we can begin overcoming patients’ fears and misconceptions of cell and gene therapy

Cell and gene therapies (C&GTs) have the potential to transform healthcare, but there are misconceptions held by patients, their families, and the general public that can cause fear and harm the reputation of these treatments. 

Common misconceptions of cell & gene therapies 

The most common of these misconceptions include concerns about efficacy, side effects, and length of treatment. These fears can lead to delays in treatment and lower the chances of successful therapy outcomes. 

There are also concerns about the effectiveness of C&GTs due to small patient populations in early clinical trials and the lack of presentation of successful results from larger clinical trials, which can provide evidence of a therapy’s overall effectiveness.

Addressing these misconceptions

To address these issues, healthcare providers and pharma companies can provide accessible and relevant information, on-demand healthcare support, and virtual appointments to educate patients about the complexities of treatment and build trust. 

It is also important for these parties to listen to patient advocacy groups and understand any gaps in knowledge or misperceptions to develop content and messaging that helps patients understand the diseases and treatments.

In our piece with The Medicine Maker, Ben Beckley, our Global Lead at EmerGENE, explores these misconceptions further. He also shares the ways pharmaceutical companies can support in ensuring patients are given the tools to make informed decisions about their C&GT treatments. 

Read more: https://themedicinemaker.com/business-regulation/patients-be-not-afraid