SAN FRANCISCO – If 2017 marked a year of big wins for scientific innovation with the FDA approvals of the first three gene therapies – Novartis AG's Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) CAR T immunotherapy for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Kite Pharma Inc.-developed CAR T Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) for certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and more "traditional" gene therapy Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec-rzyl) from Spark Therapeutics Inc. to treat RPE65 mutation-associated retinal dystrophy – then 2018 might be the year when the innovative capabilities on the payer side are put to the test.