Wonder CF pill ‘like winning Lottery’ for brave little sisters

THE joyful smiles say it all. Sisters Imogen and Annabelle Fare finally clutch their life-saving cystic fibrosis drugs following a four-year battle.

For years Imogen, eight, and Annabelle, five, who have the cruel genetic condition which destroys the lungs and hits other organs, have begged for wonder pill Orkambi.

They love playing together but cannot share ice creams, drinks and kisses in case they swap lung bugs.

The Daily Express has featured the brave girls several times in our campaign for US firm Vertex’s CF drugs to become available on the NHS.

Imogen said yesterday:

“Now I can grow up big and strong with lots of energy.”

Their tearful mother Alison, 39, a baker, said: “This has been the moment we’ve been hoping for. It’s incredible.”

Alison’s husband Dave, 42, a taxi driver, said: “This is like winning the Lottery.”

The couple, of Conwy, North Wales, stepped up their battle four years ago when Orkambi became available for the NHS to buy but no deal was done. In 2018 Imogen and

Annabelle wrote a moving letter to then prime minister Theresa May, asking her to help make Orkambi available.

The sisters take 35 tablets a day and have stayed home for four months during the virus lockdown.

The Daily Express began fighting for aVertex/NHS drug deal last February.

That autumn Vertex signed UK-wide deals for access to Orkambi, Symkevi and Kalydeco. Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland must make separate agreements.

Last month NHS England signed a landmark deal for Vertex’s fourth and most superior drug Kaftrio, dubbed “almost a cure” for CF.