UK parliament presses Vertex over Orkambi

12 November 2018

The stand-off between Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VRTX) and the UK’s cost watchdog for medicines over the cystic fibrosis (CF) drug Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) has now gone on for two-and-a-half years.

All those involved, including CF patients with the F508del mutation that is targeted by Orkambi, have expressed frustration over the stalemate surrounding the cost of the drug.

Last week, the Health and Social Care Committee of the House of Commons followed up the letter that it sent to the US drugmaker in October with a further request for details on the company’s negotiations with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

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