December 2023

NEWS & COLUMNS

6-7 NEWS
AstraZeneca and Cellectis partner in deal worth over $2.2bn; MHRA authorises world-first gene therapy

8-9 NEWS
Landmark UK NHS medicines deal; New WHO initiative to accelerate vaccine development

10-11 DERMATOLOGY NEWS
Almirall gets EC approval for atopic dermatitis; Pfizer’s Litfulo approved for alopecia areata

12 DARWIN'S MEDICINE
Evolution trumps transformation

13 POLICY AND PUBLIC HEALTH
A time of reflection on the year that has been

14 LIVING IN A VUCA WORLD
It’s been a disruptive, difficult year

15 INNOVATIVE IMPACT BLOG
The top seven future capabilities that every team needs

FEATURES

16-17 REACHING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF GENE THERAPY THROUGH INCREASED GENETIC TESTING
How early diagnosis and advances in gene-focused treatments could transform the lives of patients with rare cardiovascular disease

20-21 BREAKING BARRIERS: STRATEGIES FOR EXPANDING PATIENT ACCESS TO CELL AND GENE THERAPIES
To sustain the cell and gene therapy sector’s progress and help guarantee patient access to these cutting- edge treatments, it is imperative to address these issues effectively

24-25 UK AT AN INFLECTION POINT FOR NEWBORN SCREENING FOR SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY
In the UK, SMA is still not part of the routine testing every newborn baby undergoes via a simple heel prick at the hospital, despite the availability of three innovative SMA treatments on the NHS, which are proven to unfold their best possible outcomes the earlier they are administered

16. Reaching the full potential of gene therapy