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Another No For Vertex As Scotland Rejects Offer For Orkambi And Symkevi

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

The Scottish Medicines Consortium has issues over the price Vertex Pharmaceuticals is asking for its cystic fibrosis drugs, and like NICE in England it has rejected the products for use on the National Health Service.  

Macro photo of tooth wheel mechanism with FUNDING concept words
Scotland has recommended against funding for two CF drugs. • Source: Shutterstock

The cost of Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi is under the spotlight again after the health technology appraisal body, the Scottish Medicines Consortium, recommended against the routine use of the product on the National Health Service in Scotland. Its counterpart in England, NICE, has already taken the same stance. 

The SMC announced today that it could not accept Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) or another CF drug made by Vertex, Symkevi (tezacaftor/ivacaftor), because the

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More from United Kingdom

Managed Access Agreement Fails To Help BioMarin’s Brineura Secure Routine Reimbursement In England

 
• By Francesca Bruce

BioMarin’s ultra-rare disease drug Brineura has breached cost-effectiveness thresholds for highly specialized treatments in England and looks set to be denied routine funding on the National Health Service.

Inclusive By Design: UK Pilots Diversity Plans For Drug & Device Trials

 
• By Vibha Sharma

The UK has issued clearer guidance to help drug and medical device sponsors demonstrate how they intend to include a diverse and relevant range of participants in their clinical trials.

UK’s International Recognition Procedure: EU Dossier Faster Than US Or Canada

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Companies that use the European Medicines Agency as a reference regulator for the UK’s International Recognition Procedure can expect a faster approval than those that use other national regulators, such as those in the US and Canada, an MHRA spokesperson has said.

Industry On Making England’s HTA Innovation Lab A Success

 
• By Eliza Slawther

England’s health technology assessment institute, NICE, must ensure that there is clarity for manufacturers on how its methods and processes might change following testing in its sandbox environment, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said.

More from Europe

UK’s International Recognition Procedure: EU Dossier Faster Than US Or Canada

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Companies that use the European Medicines Agency as a reference regulator for the UK’s International Recognition Procedure can expect a faster approval than those that use other national regulators, such as those in the US and Canada, an MHRA spokesperson has said.

Few Takers For EMA’s OPEN Pathway Prompts Rethink

 
• By Vibha Sharma

While drug companies say they support the European Medicines Agency’s expanded OPEN framework for the collaborative assessment of marketing applications with non-EU authorities, they are reluctant to participate in the initiative for a number of reasons.

EU Council Could Adopt Pharma Reform Package Next Week, But Disputes Risk A Year’s Delay

 
• By Eliza Slawther

The Council of the EU wants to adopt its negotiating position on the reform of the general pharmaceutical legislation “sooner, rather than later,” but divergence between member states could push negotiations back another year, a European Commission policy officer said today.