U.K. parents form group to buy generic versions of Vertex CF drugs

A group of parents who have children with cystic fibrosis have launched a buyer's club to purchase generic versions of drugs manufactured by Vertex from an undisclosed manufacturer, with the goal of convincing the U.K. government to provide the generic through NHS England via a Crown Use License.

According to the club's website, generic versions of Kalydeco ivacaftor and Orkambi ivacaftor/lumacaftor can be purchased for about £18,000-£23,000 ($22,775-$29,101) per patient per year from the manufacturer. The price is about five times less than the £104,000 ($132,142) list price of Orkambi in the U.K., where the drug is unavailable due to a reimbursement standoff between Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX), NHS England and NICE (see "Impasse Over Vertex CF Drugs Likely to Continue Despite NHS's Managed Access Offer")...