Cystic fibrosis patients in Wirral and across England can now benefit from a ‘transformative’ treatment.

NHS patients will be among the first in Europe to be prescribed Kaftrio, which significantly improves lung function, helping people with cystic fibrosis to breathe more easily and enhancing their overall quality of life.

The treatment – known as the ‘triple combination therapy’ – has been given the green light by European regulators, setting live a deal struck by NHS England to get the drug onto the frontline of patient care as soon as it was licensed.

NHS chief executive Simon Stevens announced the agreement at the Health Select Committee in June this year.

The UK Cystic Fibrosis Medical Association has described the treatment as showing evidence of being potentially ‘truly life-transforming’.

The immediate availability of Kaftrio, alongside existing treatment options previously negotiated between NHS England and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, means that most patients with CF - more than 7,000 people in England - can benefit from a therapy which tackles the underlying causes of the condition.

As part of the innovative commercial deal, NHS England also secured equivalent terms for cystic fibrosis patients in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland paving the way for full UK access.

Welcoming the news that the NHS can start prescribing the new treatment, NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis, said: “At the same time as staff came together to put in a herculean effort to treat over 108,000 for coronavirus in hospitals, they also continued providing round the clock care for patients with long term conditions such as cystic fibrosis, and this landmark deal has put NHS patients at the front of the queue for transformational treatment.

“The NHS has developed world-leading commercial capabilities, enabling us to strike such landmark deals with the pharmaceutical industry and support people with cystic fibrosis to lead longer, healthier, better quality lives.”

David Ramsden, Chief Executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said: “The licensing of Kaftrio marks a step change in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. With agreements between Vertex and governments across the UK already in place, thousands of eligible people across the UK can now discuss with their clinical team how they can start this treatment as soon as possible.

“It’s also great news that more mutations have been added to those eligible for Kalydeco and Symkevi, giving more children and adults with CF a disease modifying treatment option.

“The UK CF Registry will continue to support access to and monitoring of these new therapies for people with cystic fibrosis. It’s thanks to a huge community effort that these medicines are now available for so many people with cystic fibrosis in the UK, and as quickly as possible.

“At such a positive moment, we are also mindful that much work still remains to find drugs appropriate for all people with cystic fibrosis and further breakthroughs that will support everyone to truly live a life unlimited.”

The terms of the deal landed by NHS England also mean that as many as 300 patients with some rarer genetic mutations, which fall outside of the scope of the European licensing body’s considerations, will now be able to benefit from Kalydeco and Symkevi, also produced by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, offering a lifeline to those with limited treatment options.