Patient in Focus: Delving into CAR-T cell therapy accessibility challenges
This session at the 7th European CAR T-cell Meeting, promoted by the Patient Advocacy Committees of EHA and EBMT highlighted the challenges and opportunities in improving patient access to CAR-T therapy and preparing healthcare systems for its adoption. Beatrice Casadei emphasized the significant economic and organizational impact of CAR-T, stressing the need for cost-effective patient management and better resource allocation. Liora Bowers (OECD) discussed the importance of flexible reimbursement policies and addressing health system bottlenecks, such as patient referral and approval processes, to enhance access. Manel Juan advocated for decentralized and academic CAR-T production through hospital exemption, offering a more personalized and cost-effective approach to therapy.
Key Takeaways:
Equitable access to CAR-T therapy requires a combination of cost management, policy reforms, and innovative production models. By prioritizing patient-centric solutions and fostering global collaboration, healthcare systems can overcome barriers and ensure more patients benefit from this life-saving treatment.
Nurses Track
It was a pleasure to observe so many attendees at the Nurses’ Track of the 7th European CAR T-cell Meeting in Strasbourg. Accessibility was enhanced with both French and German simultaneous translation, supporting great interaction and discussion between speakers and the audience.
With a stimulating and appealing programme including a number of new and thought-provoking topics, the Nurses' Track was opened by EBMT Nurses Group President, Michelle Kenyon (UK) and HNHCP Vice Chair, Mairead Ni Chonghaile (Ireland). This was followed by a keynote lecture from Nico Gagelmann on equity and access to CAR T-cell therapy. He emphasized the importance of training, cost, representation, and patient involvement in equitable CAR T-cell therapy access.
The second session focused on the fundamentals of cell and gene therapy, covering key topics such as prehabilitation and rehabilitation (Orla McCourt, UK), acute toxicity management (Ruth Clout, UK), and late complications (Edoardo Campodonico, Italy). Notably, rehabilitation is emerging as a crucial aspect of CAR T care, though more research is needed. Acute toxicities require careful monitoring, escalation, team discussion and guidance, and clear communication. Late complications like relapse, prolonged cytopenia, and infections remain significant concerns, requiring a multidisciplinary approach.
In the third session, experts provided updates on CAR T applications in haematology (Annalisa Ruggeri, Italy), autoimmune diseases (Raffaella Greco, Italy), and bispecific antibodies (Jeremy Deuel, Switzerland). Hilda Mekelenkamp (Netherlands) highlighted the promise of gene therapy in hemoglobinopathy and noted the ethical considerations surrounding this treatment.
The fourth session emphasized enhanced outcome reporting, with Antonia Mueller (Austria) stressing its necessity despite challenges. Fanny Colin (France) introduced the CARAMA remote monitoring program, aimed at early discharge and side-effect management. Other discussions covered patient perspectives and service evaluation (Britt Snoek, Netherlands) and the role of nurses in supporting patients' emotional and physical experiences (Verena Leinemann, Austria).
In the fifth and final session, three abstracts were presented featuring presentations on patient-reported outcomes (Anna Spanjaart, Netherlands), side-effect comparisons based on the analysis from the lymphoma coalition’s 2024 global patient survey with an impressive number of respondents (Natacha Bolaños, Spain), and caregiver burden (Roberto Liu, Netherlands). Jennifer Vidrine (UK) outlined the ethical and practical importance of shared decision-making, advocating for transparent communication, multidisciplinary collaboration and parallel planning (curative treatment parallel to palliative care). The session concluded with an engaging panel discussion.
Key Takeaways:
- Rehabilitation is becoming vital in CAR T cell therapy.
- Acute and late toxicities require structured, team-based management.
- Remote monitoring programs like CARAMA enhance patient care. Nurses play a pivotal role in holistic patient support. Ethical considerations and patient involvement remain essential.
- Overall, the meeting highlighted the evolving role of nurses in CAR T-cell therapy, from managing complications to enhancing patient and caregiver experiences, while emphasizing the need for continued research and multidisciplinary strategies.
We look forward to welcoming you to the 8th European CAR T-cell Meeting, 12-14 February 2026, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain!
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