CGTs offer potentially life-changing treatment for a broad spectrum of complex diseases, from genetic conditions to cancers. The pace of innovation has been exponential, and in the US alone there are approximately 34 marketed therapies falling into the categories of gene therapy, cell therapy, or gene-modified cell therapy as of April 2026.[i]
It is predicted that the global CGTs market will reach $80bn in sales by 2029. Oncology will continue to be the leading area, accounting for 44% of the CGTs market by 2029.[ii] As of April 2026, oncology remains the top area in the development pipeline, with 3,651 cell therapies, gene therapies, and gene-modified cell therapies in active development for oncology indications.[iii] While many non-oncology trials remain in early development, there is clear effort to translate the success of cell and gene therapies beyond oncology into new spaces, including metabolic, genetic, and central nervous system disorders.
While the science is progressing and the possibilities and pipeline rapidly growing, the success of CGTs can all hinge on the efficiency and effectiveness of their distribution networks. CGTs distribution requires protecting fragile therapies, orchestrating handovers between many stakeholders, and building a network that can scale as indications expand and geographies diversify. There are four best-practice recommendations to help build a secure, scalable distribution network for a successful CGT launch.
Build a fit-for-access and fit-for-purpose channel strategy for cell and gene therapies
For many patients and caregivers, traveling long distances is physically, financially, and logistically challenging. Designing a channel with patient proximity in mind can reduce barriers and support more timely treatment.
However, not all sites of care can support CGTs, and some payers impose specific accreditation requirements which rule out many facilities. Capability can vary widely across institutions and regions. Common constraints are complex administration procedures and cryogenic storage and shipping requirements, with short transport windows.
A fit-for-purpose approach typically means segmenting sites by readiness, including established CGT centers, emerging centers, and future candidates. Then it is a matter of aligning distribution coverage and onboarding plans to meet those demands.
There is also a need for planning beyond administering centers. Referral networks matter, especially when patients are diagnosed in community settings and then referred to specialized sites for treatment. A channel design that ignores referral pathways can unintentionally limit access, even if the product is technically available.
Finally, channel strategy should be built to evolve. As the CGTs market grows, manufacturers need a network that can expand quickly without compromising compliance, product integrity, or patient experience.
Choose a CGT distribution partner with a global network
Many CGT launches begin with a single country or region. New geographies often come into scope as clinical evidence accumulates and payers in additional countries develop workable reimbursement and authorization processes. Companies then expand into those new geographies. However, selecting a distribution partner based only on the initial footprint can lead to obstacles when CGT producers try to expand distribution into new regions and the original distribution partner is unable to scale.
A partner with a large, global network can become a strategic advantage by enabling maximum reach to eligible treatment facilities and stronger access to referral ecosystems. This choice also connects to broader commercialization readiness. A partner with reach and experience is likely to have tailored evidence packages for regulators and prescribers, established relationships with healthcare decision makers at hospitals and academic institutions, and a proactive engagement strategy with regulators across target markets.
Be prepared for inevitable supply chain challenges
Many cryogenic shipments must be delivered within 48–72 hours, domestically or globally, and require continuous, validated temperature control. This reality requires trained personnel at every handoff point, and clear after-hours and weekend receiving plans at sites of care.
Even as the availability of cryogenic shippers has improved for small, single-dose shipments, constraints persist for larger shipments. A frequent and costly pitfall is selecting packaging for the therapy during development without validating compatibility with shipping and storage containers. Retrofits and custom modifications at later stages can introduce delays and added cost.
Some manufacturers discover late in development that they need capabilities such as a secondary packaging room to protect packaging integrity. Because “exceptions” are common in CGT, strong programs allocate time and resources to contingency playbooks, tight exception management workflows with defined escalation, and decision rights and master data quality. Addressing these challenges early reduces the likelihood that a preventable logistics issue becomes a patient-impacting event.
Build end-to-end traceability for complete data and real-time monitoring
In CGT distribution, physical movement and information integrity are inseparable. End-to-end traceability is essential for compliance, patient safety, and operational confidence.
Effective traceability means you can monitor in near real-time shipment location and custody handoffs, temperature status and documentation completeness and deviations. This level of control is difficult to sustain with spreadsheets. Advanced software and platform-agnostic orchestration tools can connect stakeholders into a more cohesive, monitorable network.
Traceability must also extend into processes that occur once the shipment arrives at the hospital, clinic, infusion center, or cell therapy unit. Facilities that perform intermediate steps such as compounding, preparation, and dose handling still need labeling and tracking procedures that preserve traceability from receipt through administration or disposal. Designing traceability with real hospital and clinic workflows in mind reduces compliance risk and operational delays.
Ensuring successful launch of cell and therapies and future expansion
CGTs will become an established treatment option, but higher development and production costs, clinical trial risk, and intensifying pricing and reimbursement pressures will remain challenges with these advanced clinical products. The sooner distribution, logistics, and traceability challenges are addressed, the faster CGTs can become viable treatment options for patients.
A secure and scalable CGT distribution network is built step by step, and this article shares just four important recommendations to guide this process. It starts with a channel strategy that is fit for access and purpose. From there, selecting a partner like Cencora that can scale globally, tackle supply chain constraints early, and implement end-to-end traceability for real-time monitoring — from manufacturing to administration — is key.
For more details on the logistics requirements of cell and gene therapies, download Cencora’s document below.
[i] GlobalData Intelligence Center, Drugs Database. Accessed April 9th 2026.
[ii] GlobalData, Cell and Gene Therapies – Top Pharmaceutical Industry Trends to Watch for 2024.
[iii] GlobalData Intelligence Center, Drugs Database. Accessed April 8th 2026.
