There were strong calls made by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland this afternoon, when they urged the government to seriously consider introducing a new drug would make a huge difference to the lives of CF patients.
The call comes as the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) is currently assessing the potentially lifer altering drug, called Orkambi. Cystic Fibrosis say the introduction of the revolutionary new drug could drastically reduce the number of hospital admissions for people who suffer with the illness. Speaking at their annual conference Cystic Fibrosis CEO Philip Watt said a recent survey shows that the new drug is effective, witn 89% of adults diagnosed with illness having had an exacerbation of their condition in the past 12 months.
Mr Watt said Orkambi would reduce those exacerbations by 40% and would also sustain and improve lung function. Mr Watt also believes the new drug would enable some to go back into full or part-time employment. Mr Watt told delegates that people with CF who are clinical trials for the drug have said they now feel well enough to consider having families of their own, something which would have been unheard of ten years ago.
However Mr Watt did acknowledge that the new life altering drug is expensive but said the Government should consider introducing it, because it is needed and could potentially change many lives for the better.