I know many families affected by cystic fibrosis have placed a great deal of hope in this drug and believe particular care should be taken to assess its effectiveness.
While the preliminary recommendation is that this treatment is not cost effective, I do think that it is worth exploring if there is a way it can be made available to NHS patients. I was very interested to read a proposal from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for the creation of an interim arrangement between the drug's manufacturer and the NHS and know that my colleagues in the Department of Health are aware of it.
The independent body which recommends whether particular drugs should be used, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), has taken the initial view that the benefits of Orkambi to lung function, a test of how people with cystic fibrosis are improving overall, are modest. However, NICE does accept that Orkambi helps with the management of the condition and is of particular benefit in reducing sudden hospitalisations. This later point will be particularly important as NICE seeks people's views before publishing further guidance.
I know the preliminary recommendation must come as a real disappointment. NICE has published a public consultation on Orkambi which has now closed. Final guidance is expected later this year and further details can be found here:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/GID-TAG530/consultation/html-content
I think we all accept that the cost to the NHS must be borne in mind when considering new drugs. It is, however, my hope that we will reach a point where cost effective 'gene specific' drugs will become available to help improve the lives of people with cystic fibrosis.