Researchers from the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology have found that two targeted immunotherapy drugs lead to high remission rates and long survival with reasonable side effects for older patients with a tough-to-treat form of leukemia. The results of Alliance A041703 Cohort 1, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, focused on treating patients aged 60 years and older with newly diagnosed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with immunotherapy medications inotuzumab ozogamicin and blinatumomab. Historically, this group has faced poor outcomes with traditional chemotherapy due to high rates of treatment-related death and relapse.

In a viewpoint article published in JAMA Internal Medicine today (Oct. 20, 2025), researchers Audun Brendbekken, MD (University of Bergen, Norway) and Stacie Dusetzina, PhD (Vanderbilt University, USA) discuss the current status of regulatory approval and reimbursement for cell and gene therapies, often the only hope for patients with rare diseases, in the US and Europe. They argue that a nationwide single-payer system in the US can reduce inequality in terms of access and strengthen price negotiation opportunities for providers, and that the US can learn from Europe’s approach.