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<p>NHS England and NHS Improvement is leading the negotiations with Vertex and has
made a revised and improved offer to Vertex that would provide immediate funding for
Orkambi and Symkevi in advance of a positive assessment by the National Institute
for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in addition to expanded access to Kalydeco
which is already funded by the National Health Service for certain patients. No date
has been agreed for a further meeting as of yet, however negotiations are ongoing
between Vertex, NHS England and NHS Improvement and NICE.</p><p>Cystic fibrosis can
have a devastating effect on the lives of those who suffer from it, and those close
to them, and the Government wants to see patients access innovative treatments at
a cost-effective price for the NHS. The Government fully supports NICE and NHS England
in seeking to ensure access for patients to effective and innovative medicines at
a price that represents value to the NHS, and it is not for Ministers to intervene
in this process. The Department’s approach remains to strongly urge Vertex to accept
NHS England and NHS Improvement’s generous offer, but in the absence of a deal, we
have asked NHS England and NHS Improvement to continue to explore all options to ensure
patients can access treatments as soon as possible.</p>
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