Agreement finally reached on availability of CF treatments

Vertex, NHS England and NICE have finally reached an access agreement for cystic fibrosis treatments Orkambi, Smykevi and Kalydeco, with people suffering from CF now set to be able to access them within 30 days. Initially NICE considered Orkambi to be too expensive but they have now agreed to a binding condition of the deal that Vertex must submit its full portfolio, including its new FDA approved triple therapy Trikafta, for a full NICE appraisal.
Vertex senior vice president, Ludovic Fenaux, said: “This important agreement, reached in collaboration and partnership with NHS England and NICE, will allow more than 5,000 eligible cystic fibrosis patients in England to have access to CFTR modulators to treat the underlying cause of their disease.”
NHS CEO, Simon Stevens, said: “The UK has the second highest prevalence of cystic fibrosis of any country in the world, so today is an important and long hoped for moment for children and adults living with cystic fibrosis. That fact also means that any drug company wanting to succeed commercially in this field needs to work constructively with the NHS.”
David Ramsden, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust CEO, said: “This is a very special day and I want to thank people with cystic fibrosis, their families and everyone who has been part of this campaign for their persistence and determination to keep on fighting. We know it doesn’t end here. We will continue to fight for similar access in Wales and Northern Ireland so that all people with cystic fibrosis in the UK are able to benefit from these life-saving drugs. Also, with news that the new triple therapy, Trikafta, which 90% of people with cystic fibrosis could stand to benefit from, could be licenced for use in the coming year, we will continue to campaign so that people with cystic fibrosis never have to wait again for the best available medicines.”