Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide an update on negotiations between NICE and the drug manufacturer Vertex on the potential use of the drug Orkambi.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published technology appraisal guidance on the use of lumacaftor-ivacaftor (Orkambi) for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in July 2016. NICE plans to review its guidance to determine whether it should be updated in the light of any new evidence in 2019.

If significant new evidence comes to light before the scheduled review date, NICE has processes in place to bring forward a review. NICE remains open to a further approach from the company, with new evidence or a revised price. Although there has been recent correspondence between NHS England and the company, NICE has not yet received any fresh proposals from the company.