Earlier this morning, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP, announced that the Government had secured an agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to make available all three of their UK-licenced cystic fibrosis medicines; Orkambi, Symkevi and Kalydeco.
For two years, Julia has been pleased to campaign with parliamentary colleagues on behalf of local cystic fibrosis sufferers and their families so that they may access the vital drugs they need. This has been a long process, involving many parliamentary debates, representations to ministers as well as cross-party efforts to the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
We are pleased that the Secretary of State has today announced that NHS England have now secured an agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to make available all of their UK-licenced cystic fibrosis medicines: Orkambi, Symkevi and Kalydeco.
NHS England advise that clinicians will be able to prescribe these medicines, free of charge, within 30 days and that there is no cap on the number of patients that may receive these drugs. We are thrilled that these vital drugs will be made promptly available to those suffering from cystic fibrosis.
For a long time, the NHS and NICE have been in negotiations with Vertex Pharmaceuticals regarding the availability of these medicines at a price that represents value to the NHS and in a way that ensures that they can be subject to full NICE appraisal. The Secretary of State said that the deal represents great value for money for the NHS. It also includes a condition that in due course Vertex will also submit its new triple therapy for NICE appraisal, potentially paving the way for further treatments to become available.
Further information on this important announcement can be found on the NHS England website using the link below:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2019/10/nhs-england-concludes-wide-ranging-deal-for-cystic-fibrosis-drugs/
We hope that this will bring some relief and comfort regarding the future availability of vital cystic fibrosis medicines to cystic fibrosis sufferers and their families. Please contact us if you or a family member encounter any issues obtaining these medicines as we would be very happy to help resolve them.
Team Lopez
