Zerbor/iStock via Getty Images After months of uncertainty, Vertex Pharmaceuticals ( NASDAQ: VRTX ) on Thursday announced a long-term reimbursement agreement with England’s National Health Service (NHS) for its drugs targeted at a lung disorder called cystic fibrosis. The agreement comes after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which sets drug policy for the NHS, recommended its medicines Kaftrio, Symkevi, and Orkambi for all eligible patients with cystic fibrosis in England. The decision marks a policy reversal for NICE, which in November issued draft guidance noting that the three drugs were not cost-effective for the NHS.
According to NICE, the list price for a 28-day supply of Kaftrio, Symkevi, and Orkambi stood at £8,346, £6,294, and £8,000 in 2023, respectively. In a statement, Vertex ( VRTX ) said it has engaged the NHS officials in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to arrive at similar agreements “as soon as possible.” More on Vertex Pharmaceuticals Vertex: New, Longer-Term Casgevy Data Makes Case For Blockbuster Sales Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) Goldman Sachs 45th Annual Global Healthcare Conference (Transcript) Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) The 44th Annual William Blair Growth Stock Conference Alpine Immune ticks higher as HSR waiting period for Vertex Pharma deal expires Bluebird bio spikes even as CRISPR leads in gene therapy rollout.