Tina Witte

The old market access playbook is obsolete. High list prices offset by heavy PBM rebates no longer work. Between the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), PBM reform, and direct-to-consumer pharmacy channels, the rules have changed — and so has the definition of a frictionless patient experience.

In my time leading the Life Sciences Practice Area at Fletcher, I’ve seen just how vastly differently organizations choose to anchor their CI efforts. Some operate absent a formal CI function at all, while others are in the infancy stages of a more formidable buildout. And then there are the companies that have made substantive investments altogether, standing up full departments and giving CI a real seat at the executive table.

We recently marked Rare Disease Day, a vital moment for the community. For those impacted by rare pathologies, the journey is often defined by a grueling "diagnostic odyssey," complex symptom management, and the constant hurdle of managed care coverage. For many, cell and gene therapy (CGT) represents the ultimate beacon of hope—offering not just chronic disease management, but the potential for curative outcomes.