Stem cell transplant for SCD beats gene therapy on cost: Study

Stem cell transplant from a partially matched donor is more cost-effective than gene therapy to treat sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a study.

In order for currently available gene therapies to deliver cost effectiveness on par with stem cell transplant, their cost would need to come down by at least 66%, the researchers found.

The study, “Haploidentical transplant, gene therapy, and standard care in sickle cell disease: a cost-effectiveness analysis,” was published in Blood. The National Institutes of Health was among the study’s funders.