Cell and gene therapies are advanced medical treatments for certain patients with debilitating or life-shortening diseases. They work by either altering the content of a person’s genetic code, or by replacing diseased or dysfunctional cells with healthy ones. The UK was the first country in Europe to reach agreements that would see some patients routinely access a form of a cell therapy known as CAR T-cell therapy. This is a complex treatment where patients’ cells are collected, engineered and returned to the body to fight specific cancers. Kite, a Gilead company, is a leader in developing and manufacturing CAR T treatments, and along with other pharmaceutical companies has worked closely with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England in partnership to ensure timely access to these treatments.