Promising Development in Kaftrio Dispute 

In a move warmly welcomed by CFI, according to their press statement given to the Examiner newspaper (below), VERTEX is no longer seeking an increment/premium for the 35 Children excluded from Kaftrio. CFI understands that this was a key factor in sparking the dispute that emerged in public 5 weeks ago. 

The CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland has today urged the HSE to respond to this welcome development and to reach an agreement with VERTEX with as much speed as possible. Such an agreement should include the future proofing for those in younger age groups and with other genotypes who have the potential to benefit form this ground breaking drug therapy.

According to the statement issued by VERTEX to the Irish Examiner; 

'The 35 patients in the 6 to 11-year-old patient population with specific genotypes were not included in the original agreement.  We have offered to include these additional patients at the same cost per patient as the existing agreement

Vertex is in active discussions with the HSE about this issue and remains committed to seeking a resolution for the 35 children currently impacted and other populations of CF patients who may be eligible in the future as quickly as possible.’

Philip Watt CEO of CFI- stated “while we are not party to the negotiations, this appears to be a very promising development. We would now urge the HSE to respond in kind and to reach an agreement with VERTEX that will ensure access to Kaftrio for the 35 excluded children but will also future proof access to further VERTEX drug therapies for those with rare or unclassified genotypes".

Please see the article from The Irish Examiner here: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40901780.html and download the statement from Vertex below.