Oncologists in the U.S. see pricing as the largest hurdle for patients when it comes to accessing new cancer therapies, while many are also struggling to keep up with the pace of new cell and gene therapies.
That’s according to a new survey out this month from healthcare research firm Sermo, which surveyed more than 300 oncologists.
The survey revealed that cost to patients is the top challenge that 24% of U.S.-based oncologists face in incorporating new treatments into their practices. Only 10% of European-based oncologists had the same concerns about costs.
That difference is likely largely explained by the fact that many European countries’ governments pay for new medicines through taxpayer funds and go through a health technology assessment, which can whittle down the prices of new therapies when compared to the U.S.
The survey also found that oncologists self-reported “high expertise” in immunotherapies (84%), liquid biopsies (72%), new biomarkers (69%), and anti-drug conjugates (68%). That number dropped to 21% when it came to cell and gene therapies, the latest innovation in oncology that includes CAR-T therapies.
According to the survey, most oncologists who said they didn’t feel experienced with gene therapies are the most interested in educational topics, including efficacy data and safety data, to boost their knowledge.