Gilead Sciences Inc BROWN The executive revealed the company’s plans to quadruple production of cell therapy cancer treatments by 2026.
In an interview with Reuters, Cindy Perettiexecutive vice president of Gilead’s Kite cell therapy unit, said the advances stem from significant improvements in Gilead’s manufacturing processes.
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Perettie noted that these improvements have increased the annual production of patient treatments from 6,000 to 10,000 in the last year.
Gilead’s focus on cell therapies, particularly chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) treatments like Yescarta and Tecartus, which cost more than $420,000, underscores its strategic shift into oncology, with l aim to diversify beyond the core HIV business.
Last month, Gilead Sciences agreed to acquire CymaBay Therapeutics Inc CBAY for $32.50 per share in cash or a total equity value of $4.3 billion.
Since acquiring Kite in 2017 for nearly $12 billion, Gilead has been steady in expanding its oncology footprint, Reuters noted, anticipating that oncology products will make up a third of its revenue by the end of the decade.
Perettie highlighted Gilead’s efforts to further streamline its manufacturing processes, with Yescarta’s average delivery time already reduced to 14 days.
Gilead aims to strengthen its market share for Yescarta and Tecartus by making these treatments accessible to a broader patient base.
The company’s strategy includes expanding its network of health centers across the United States to administer the therapy, as well as intensifying efforts to reach patients in existing treatment centers, particularly academic hospitals.
Perettie emphasized that initial growth will come primarily from academic hospitals, with significant expansion into more hospitals expected by 2025.
Gilead plans to increase the overall reach of CAR-T therapy in the United States and strengthen its market share.
Despite a recent slowdown in CAR-T revenue growth, the company remains optimistic, with plans to revitalize growth later this year following stable or slightly rising sales in the first quarter.
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