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<p>Ministers and Government officials have had a number of discussions with Vertex
and NHS England in which the availability of Orkambi for the treatment of cystic fibrosis
was raised.</p><p> </p><p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
is the independent body that develops guidance for the National Health Service on
whether new drugs and treatments represent a clinically and cost effective use of
resources.</p><p> </p><p>NICE published final guidance on the use of Orkambi (lumacaftor-ivacaftor)
for treating cystic fibrosis homozygous for the F508del mutation in July 2016 that
does not recommend this treatment.</p><p> </p><p>Where NICE has not been able to recommend
a treatment, funding decisions should be made by the relevant NHS commissioner, based
on an assessment of the available evidence.</p>
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