Health chief fury as US firm stalls over NHS deal for life-saving drug
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has blasted the US drugs firm behind life-saving cystic fibrosis drugs for being the “least open” to negotiating just days ahead of a crunch meeting.
For more than a year Vertex chiefs have stalled over a £108million-ayear NHS England offer for their wonder medicines such as Orkambi.
Next week Mr Hancock meets the pharmaceutical giant’s CEO for a face-to-face discussion.
Mr Hancock tore into Vertex at a fringe debate during the Tory party conference in Manchester.
He said: “Orkambi is probably the most difficult negotiation we have got in the UK at the moment.
“These negotiations go on all the time. I don’t want to be too rude about Vertex because we are trying to negotiate, but they have been the least open to successful negotiation.”
The Daily Express, which has been crusading for a deal, was the first to reveal Mr Hancock and Vertex CEO Dr Jeff Leiden, who is believed to be jetting in especially for talks, had agreed to a face-to-face meeting.
Some sufferers and their families are worried about Mr Hancock publicly criticising Vertex.
Sharon Cranfield’s daughter Jessica, 18, is desperate to get their upcoming triple combination pill.
Sharon, 54, of Tadworth, Surrey, said: “It doesn’t lend itself to constructive dialogue.”
And Alison Fare, of Conwy, North Wales, mum to Imogen, seven, and Annabelle, four, said: “Both sides should remain flexible and stop trying to score points.”
Jeni Beviere, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, mum to CF youngster Josh, 12, said: “Our government are airing their inability to negotiate a deal by blaming others. We don’t want to hear that, it’s emotionally draining. We are trying to keep our kids alive while he plays chicken with a drug giant researching a cure for CF.”
And Alison Dillon, of Sevenoaks, Kent, mum to TV actor son Oli, 21, told us: “I’m not sure that was the most well-timed comment.”