Vertex responds to NHS’s ‘final’ offer

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) said it is evaluating a “final” offer from NHS England for the company’s cystic fibrosis drugs but is concerned the latest bid to break the stalemate between the parties falls short.

Under the proposal, NHS England would pay Vertex about £500 million ($662 million) over the next five years, and over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) over the next 10 years. Details of the offer, which NHS said was its “final” offer, became public on Monday after David Ramsden, chief executive of the U.K.’s Cystic Fibrosis Trust, tweeted out a copy of a letter he received from NHS (see “NHS Makes ‘Final’ Offer to Vertex”)...