Today, I’m excited to announce the launch of the ASHP Center for Next-Generation Therapeutics, a significant step in our ongoing commitment to ensure our members are well-positioned to navigate this promising, dynamic, and complex healthcare landscape.

The urgency for this center is clear. As of early 2025, the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Therapeutic Products was reviewing more than 2,500 active investigational new drug applications for CGTs. By 2030, over 1,500 new therapies are expected to reach patients, with a combined budget impact exceeding $40 billion.

ASHP understands what’s at stake and has been preparing for this future. We have invested significantly in education, practice guidance and resources, drug information, and executive-level leadership related to these therapies.

Over the past year, ASHP convened key stakeholders and subject matter experts as part of our ASHP Advanced Therapeutics Summit, held during Pharmacy Futures 2025, and led other high-profile initiatives to support the development of our new center, including a Pharmacy Executive Leadership Alliance® virtual conference: Strategic Directions in System Formulary, Drug Policy, and High-Cost Drug Management; the 2024 Policy Week Joint Session; and the 2024 and 2025 ASHP/ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Forecast reports.

The ASHP Center for Next-Generation Therapeutics will build upon these efforts and provide pharmacy leadership on the safe, effective, and equitable use of breakthrough treatments. It will also include a platform to provide pharmacy teams with the information and tools needed for the total care of patients receiving next-generation therapies. Our work will help shape clinical practice, guide policy development, and foster collaboration across stakeholders to drive optimal patient outcomes.

Guided by recommendations from our Summit on Advanced Therapeutics, the center will focus on six key priorities:

• Patient Care and Access
• Implementation and Operational Considerations
• Workforce Preparedness
• Professional Resource Development
• Health System Policy, Governance, and Finance
• Advocacy and Research

The center will be led by a steering committee of experts: clinical pharmacist specialists, medication safety leaders, revenue cycle and payer experts, investigational drug specialists, clinical executives, and chief pharmacy officers. Medical, nursing, and other experts will also be invited to join the steering committee. In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing more about the committee and opportunities to get involved.

Breakthrough therapeutic treatments are redefining what is possible in patient care. As pharmacy professionals, we must lead the way in ensuring their promise is fully realized. ASHP’s Center for Next-Generation Therapeutics is our commitment to helping you confidently navigate and shape this exciting frontier in pharmacy practice.

Thank you for all you do for your patients and our profession.

Sincerely,

Paul

Posted on September 23, 2025