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Cardinal Health's 2026 Advanced Therapies Report

Cardinal Health recently unveiled its 2026 Advanced Therapies Report, focusing on the expanding role of advanced therapies in community healthcare settings. This report offers significant insights into how the advanced therapy landscape is evolving, highlighting the trends and transformations that are bringing essential treatments closer to patients.

Shifting Paradigm in Healthcare

As we move into an era where healthcare delivery is increasingly patient-centric, advanced therapies—such as gene, cell, and tissue-based treatments—are no longer confined to inpatient facilities. This shift is not just a natural progression but a necessity, aimed at addressing the root causes of various diseases by repairing, replacing, or regenerating defective cells.

The report emphasizes the growing momentum among healthcare providers to embrace outpatient and community-based settings for administering these innovative therapies. As therapies evolve, so does the imperative to enhance patient access, demonstrating a commitment to patient experience and outcome improvement.

Findings from Healthcare Professionals

The insights gathered from over 160 physicians and healthcare administrators underscore a consensus on the value of expanding advanced therapy administration in community settings. Key findings from the report include:

• - Strong provider support: There is significant backing for moving advanced therapies into outpatient environments.
• - Partnerships critical: Collaboration between health systems and community practices is viewed as essential for delivering safe, high-quality care.
• - Operational challenges: Implementing advanced therapy programs necessitates thorough planning and substantial infrastructure investment.
• - Improved patient access: By making life-altering therapies available closer to home, healthcare systems can enhance the overall patient experience.

Fran Gregory, PharmD, MBA, who serves as the vice president of Emerging Therapies at Cardinal Health, stressed the transformative nature of advanced therapies. “These treatments are changing the landscape for patients grappling with complex and severe conditions, often yielding outcomes previously thought unattainable. However, as these innovations develop, so too must the pathways that allow patients to access them.”

Growing Approval Rate of Advanced Therapies

Currently, there are 61 advanced therapies approved in the US market, a figure projected to nearly triple by 2030. While oncology remains the predominant therapeutic field, advancements in neurology, rheumatology, and other areas reflect a burgeoning potential across various medical disciplines. Interestingly, although most oncology therapies are primarily administered in inpatient settings, there is a concerted effort among providers to expand access into community healthcare venues.

According to survey results, an overwhelming majority of health system respondents (54% strongly agreed, 43% agreed) that partnerships between community practices and health systems are crucial to achieve optimal treatment outcomes. Furthermore, 63% of these respondents believe transferring advanced therapies to community settings will bolster health systems' capacity to offer groundbreaking treatments.

Implementation Strategies

However, realizing these benefits requires deliberate and careful planning. Nearly 48% of community healthcare respondents reported that preparing to administer advanced therapies requires a timeframe of one to two years—this highlights the operational and clinical complexities that come with such investments. Health systems are urged to allocate resources towards technology to bolster care coordination, while community practices focus on scaling specialized staffing and enhancing workflow designs.

A successful transition includes innovative partnership models that provide essential after-hours support, clinical training, and expedited referral pathways. Together, these elements serve as crucial enablers for the seamless and safe delivery of advanced therapies.

Conclusion

As advanced therapies continue to evolve, the focus must shift towards carving a sustainable path that brings vital treatments closer to patients. The driving force behind this movement is the strong collaboration between community health practices and larger health systems.

To explore the complete findings and insights of the 2026 Advanced Therapies Industry Report, visit the Cardinal Health website.

About Cardinal Health

Cardinal Health operates as a distributor of pharmaceuticals and specialty products and serves as a global manufacturer and distributor of medical devices, as well as medical and laboratory products. The insights provided in this report exemplify Cardinal Health's commitment to enhancing the healthcare experience and patient outcomes.