Frontiers|Health|21 March 2026|1 min read

The Gene Therapy That Could End Sickle Cell — And What It Costs

CRISPR-based treatments are delivering cures. But at $2.2 million per patient, who pays?

WriterCityAge Media

The Gene Therapy That Could End Sickle Cell — And What It Costs

The $2.2 Million Question

Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Casgevy — the world's first CRISPR-based gene therapy — has been administered to over 2,000 sickle cell patients. 94% show no crises after treatment.

At $2.2 million per patient, the total cost of treating every US patient would exceed $200 billion. No health system is prepared for that number.

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