CF Trust: U.K. health secretary backs NHS in Vertex stalemate

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock told the Cystic Fibrosis Trust that he is not willing to let Orkambi ivacaftor/lumacaftor set a precedent that will “expose the NHS to accepting the price of new medicines set by pharmaceutical companies at face value,” the U.K.-based patient advocacy group said in a blog post Thursday.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust wrote the post after meeting with Hancock to discuss the country's position on negotiations with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) over access to Orkambi and future cystic fibrosis treatments. ...