Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress has been made on the negotiations between NHS England and Vertex pharmaceuticals on making the drug Orkambi available on the NHS for people diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

In March 2018, NHS England received an outline commercial approach from Vertex. NHS England has advised that discussions are now ongoing between the two organisations about the detail of this proposal. NHS England has been clear that it is willing to take a collaborative and flexible commercial approach with the company as long as they price their products responsibly. The Department supports these negotiations and encourages a fair deal that will provide the best value and outcomes for patients and the National Health Service. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lord O’Shaughnessy) and I have written to Vertex, the manufacturer of Orkambi, to encourage expedition of the negotiations with NHS England and to set out the need to resolve this matter urgently. A copy of the letter is attached.