I had the great pleasure this week of meeting representatives from Vertex, the biotech company who specialise in serious diseases, where they confirmed that Vertex and NHS England have reached an agreement to extend access to their cystic fibrosis medicines in England.  This includes Orkambi and Kalydeco, and will be excellent news for all those with Cystic Fibrosis and their many supporters who I know have campaigned hard to find a solution.

Even more encouraging is the news that NHS England has recognised Vertex’s new ‘triple combination’ therapy, Kaftrio, and they and Vertex are working to expand existing reimbursement agreements to include the treatment in advance of the medicine being licensed later this summer. 

This new treatment is expected to add between thirty and forty years to the life expectancy of someone with Cystic Fibrosis; with the average expectancy currently at 31, it is expected that this treatment will see lifespans double to the mid-sixties.

While patients in England have been some of the last to obtain access to Orkambi, this agreement will ensure that they will be amongst the first in Europe to benefit from access to this innovative medicine upon approval, and I am absolutely delighted for what this means for my constituents who live with Cystic Fibrosis, their family and friends. I will follow the next steps with great interest!