Respiratory CGT development remains limited as funding drops

However, R&D efforts on automation and AI are advancing manufacturing.

The cell and gene therapy (CGT) landscape for respiratory diseases remains under pressure, with limited clinical progress and reduced funding, according to a GlobalData report.

Venture financing for CGTs has fallen sharply in recent years, declining from $7.5b in 2021 to $3.3b in 2024. Meanwhile, development in the respiratory space remains limited, with no approved treatments and only one product in an ongoing Phase III trial.

A lack of understanding of disease mechanisms contributes to slow development, said Connor Daniels, healthcare analyst at GlobalData. This includes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, as well as patient heterogeneity in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,

Despite these constraints, research and development efforts focused on automation and artificial intelligence are advancing manufacturing capabilities, an area widely seen as a bottleneck for CGTs.

In October 2025, Made Scientific and Streamline Bio announced a collaboration to accelerate artificial intelligence-driven robotic manufacturing following validation work.

“These developments will help to overcome the manufacturing challenges CGTs currently face while also ensuring the quality of the product is maintained, ultimately driving down the cost of these therapies for patients and payers,” Daniels added.

The companies said the technology is designed to be adaptable across different equipment and production methods.