After protracted haggling, Vertex Pharmaceuticals struck a five-year deal with the Scottish government to provide its cystic fibrosis treatments at a “confidential discount,” a notable win for the drug maker as it battles with several countries over providing coverage.
The move comes one month after the Scottish Medicines Consortium had recommended the National Health Service in Scotland should not cover the Orkambi and Symkevi medicines, because Vertex failed to present a “sufficiently robust” clinical and economic analysis to warrant the cost. The treatments may be suitable for about 400 of the 900 people in Scotland who have cystic fibrosis.
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