MP welcomes CF drugs

WEST Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has welcomed an agreement to extend the NHS licensed cystic fibrosis medications to include the triple combination therapy Kaftrio.

Having previously campaigned for the NHS to deliver cystic fibrosis treatments Orkambi and Symkevi, Ms Cooper had recently written to NHS chief executive Sir Simon

Stevens in support of Kaftrio.

NHS England and pharmaceutical company Vertex have now announced that their portfolio of licensed cystic fibrosis medicines will be expanded to include the triple combination therapy, Kaftrio.

Ms Cooper said: “I am glad that the NHS is continuing to expand the treatments available to cystic fibrosis patients.

“For too long these patients were left waiting while the NHS negotiated the terms of providing these treatments.”

She added: “It is very encouraging to see that since agreeing the initial treatments, the NHS are taking steps to provide alternative treatments for those that cannot benefit from the existing drugs.”