McLoughlin welcomes news that pharma company Vertex is to re-engage with HSE on Orkambi

Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Tony McLoughlin, has welcomed news that US pharmaceutical company Vertex is to re-engage in negotiations with the HSE on Orkambi.

“This Government’s priority, and mine, is to ensure that CF patients receive access to the best treatments possible.

“Unfortunately the price that Vertex had put on the drug Orkambi was unacceptably high, making it inaccessible not just for Ireland’s CF patients, but for other patients around Europe.

“Minister for Health Simon Harris has made it clear that Vertex need to re-engage in a meaningful way with the HSE to address the core issue of price and affordability.

“I was pleased to learn today that Vertex has responded to the HSE with a view to re-engage in negotiations with them on Orkambi.

“The company must now return to the table with a significantly better offer. I fully agreed with the Taoiseach when he said in the Dáil earlier that Vertex is ripping off the taxpayer here.

“This is an issue that I will continue to pursue with the Minister for Health and I am confident we are all working to ensure that CF patients receive access to the best treatments possible.”