Two innovative treatments from the American laboratory Vertex Pharmaceuticals intended for patients with cystic fibrosis will now be fully reimbursed by health insurance in France. This is what Olivier Véran announced on Monday, June 28, 2021. Passeport Santé tells you more.
Two innovative treatments for cystic fibrosis now fully reimbursed
After receiving marketing authorization in the European Union in 2018 and 2020, the drugs Symkevi and Kaftrio, used to fight against cystic fibrosis, will now be officially reimbursed by Social Security in France. This was announced by the Ministry of Health on Monday, June 28 in a press release. A decision that follows an agreement on the price found for the two pharmaceutical specialties KAFTRIO® and SYMKEVI® in association with KALYDECO® from the VERTEX laboratory. These innovative treatments can thus be used for patients aged 12 and over and be covered 100% by health insurance. The press release specifies, moreover, that these drugs ” will be registered for reimbursement and available in dispensary pharmacies ” in the following days.
A real source of hope for patients and associations
A rare and incurable disease of genetic origin, cystic fibrosis affects nearly 7,100 people in France. Even if the life expectancy of patients, especially the youngest, has gradually increased thanks to drugs, the disease remains very debilitating for patients with this pathology who sometimes have to be hospitalized because of the pulmonary infections they are suffering from. undergo. This is why the arrival and reimbursement of new innovative treatments constitute real hope for individuals with cystic fibrosis.
In a press release, Nicolas Renard, CEO of Vertex France, explains that “ rather than acting on the symptoms “, the drugs Kaftrio and Symkevi act on the” underlying causes of the disease “. ” This medical breakthrough is the result of more than twenty years of research and development efforts. »He specifies. As for Olivier Véran, Minister of Solidarity and Health, he declared that “ This agreement on the price of two new pharmaceutical specialties is a tremendous source of hope for patients. This means very concretely that patients will benefit from innovative and effective treatments, giving them the best chances of quality of life and increased life expectancy. “.