A comparative study showed axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi‑cel) outperformed conventional first‑line therapy for high‑risk large B‑cell lymphoma, reinforcing clinical momentum for CAR‑T in earlier lines. The data provide event‑level evidence supporting expanded indications and potential shifts in standard care. Concurrently, Gilead reported an 11% decline in cell‑therapy revenue in Q3, reflecting payer pressure, utilization variability and market maturation for Yescarta and Tecartus. The divergence—strong clinical results yet cooling commercial uptake—highlights challenges: scaling manufacturing, refining patient selection, and aligning reimbursement to enable broad adoption of cell therapies.