InspiroGene: Revolutionizing the Cell and Gene Therapy Landscape With Joe DePinto, MBA, and Waqas Haque, MD, MPH

What is InspiroGene?

InspiroGene is a dedicated vertical within McKesson focused on addressing the logistical and access challenges surrounding the commercialization of cell and gene therapies.

According to Joe DePinto, InspiroGene leverages McKesson’s vast resources, such as third-party logistics (3PL), specialty distribution, and patient support services, to create an integrated solution for emerging biotech companies. These services not only streamline operations but also enhance patient access to life-saving therapies.

The Growing Demand for Cell and Gene Therapy Commercialization

The landscape of gene therapy is evolving rapidly, with more products reaching the commercialization stage. Mr. DePinto emphasized that we are now at a “tipping point” in this nascent market. However, one of the biggest challenges remains: how to ensure these therapies are accessible to a broader population, especially outside of major academic medical centers.

InspiroGene’s approach includes developing distribution models that extend beyond top-tier academic centers, expanding the reach of these therapies to community hospitals and regional healthcare facilities.

Overcoming Barriers to Patient Access in Cell and Gene Therapy

One of the key findings from McKesson’s 2024 Cell and Gene Therapy Report is the disparity in access to these therapies. While large academic centers dominate the landscape, millions of Americans in rural areas remain underserved. According to the report, patients who have to travel long distances to access care are less likely to receive gene therapies, which hinders the broader adoption of these innovations.

McKesson’s solution? InspiroGene has developed a comprehensive patient hub that facilitates the entire care journey. From ensuring products are delivered efficiently to managing patient case logistics, InspiroGene makes it easier for community hospitals to offer these treatments. This is particularly important for rural hospitals, where infrastructure and expertise may be limited.

Expanding Access to Gene Therapy for Underserved Communities

The health equity aspect of gene therapy was a central theme in the podcast. As Dr. Haque noted, while patients in urban centers like Chicago can choose between multiple hospitals offering advanced gene therapies, rural patients often lack that choice. The map featured in the 2024 Cell and Gene Therapy Report highlighted this disparity, identifying geographic gaps in access to these life-saving therapies.

InspiroGene’s goal is to close these gaps by enabling more community hospitals to offer gene therapy services. Mr. DePinto emphasized the importance of collaboration between academic medical centers and community hospitals. By training community healthcare professionals and implementing standardized processes, InspiroGene helps ensure that more patients can access these therapies closer to home.

The Future of Cell and Gene Therapy: Moving from Academia to the Community

InspiroGene is also leading the charge in bringing cell and gene therapy to community hospitals. Mr. DePinto discussed the shift from traditional academic settings to more localized healthcare systems, which play a crucial role in expanding access to advanced therapies. He pointed out that community hospitals face significant operational and logistical challenges in offering gene therapies. However, with the right support, including training, infrastructure development, and patient coordination, these hospitals can be equipped to deliver these cutting-edge treatments.

The hub-and-spoke model, where academic centers provide specialized oversight and community hospitals handle the local delivery, is an ideal solution. DePinto believes this model will allow gene therapy to reach more patients while maintaining the high standards required for these complex treatments.

Conclusion: InspiroGene’s Role in Revolutionizing Cell and Gene Therapy

InspiroGene is poised to revolutionize the commercialization of cell and gene therapies by addressing the key barriers of access, logistics, and patient care. Through its integrated approach, InspiroGene ensures that these transformative therapies are not only developed but also delivered to the patients who need them most—regardless of their geographic location.

For healthcare professionals, the advancements made by InspiroGene represent a significant opportunity to improve patient outcomes by expanding access to life-saving treatments. As cell and gene therapies continue to evolve, partnerships with organizations like InspiroGene will be essential in overcoming the challenges of commercialization and ensuring that these therapies reach their full potential.

About the Speakers

Waqas Haque, MD, MPH, is a Hematology/Oncology Fellow at the University of Chicago. He recently completed his Internal Medicine Residency at New York University (NYU) in a Clinical Investigator Track. Dr. Haque has balanced his patient care work with a variety of research projects. During his fellowship training at the University of Chicago, he plans to further his work in innovative clinical trial design, value-based care delivery to cancer patients, and clinical investigation.

Joe DePinto, MBA, has spent the past 30+ years focused on bringing life-saving specialty drugs to market, helping patients with complex diseases to access advanced care, and helping to develop future leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. In Joe’s role as Head of Cell, Gene, and Advanced Therapies (CGAT) at McKesson, he works with teams and customers to find new and better solutions to today’s cell and gene value chain challenges while looking toward the development and identification of strategies that can help meet tomorrow’s opportunities. Mr. DePinto’s past roles have included leadership positions at top pharmaceutical companies, and his core leadership competencies include driving all aspects of strategy, drug development, investor relations, and commercialization with multiple global launches. He is active in multiple professional organizations and is committed to mentorship and building strong, diverse teams, having served as the first male national board member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.