Special funding for cystic fibrosis drug in Scotland 18th
January 2013 - Ivacaftor (Kalydeco) is the first medicine to act
on one of the genetic mutations that causes cystic fibrosis. The
Scottish Medicines Consortium, which appraises all newly
licensed medicines, has refused to recommend the drug saying it
isn't value for money'. However, the Scottish Government has
stepped in to make sure it is available from March for all
patients with the G551D, or Celtic Gene, mutation by announcing
a new Rare Conditions Medicines Fund. The fund will be available
from March this year through to April 2014. Health Secretary
Alex Neil says: "This fund bridges the period to the
establishment of next year’s value based pricing for medicines
and any changes that are made following the completion of the
ongoing access to new medicines review." Cystic fibrosis (CF) is
one of the UK's most common life-threatening inherited diseases
affecting more than 9,000 people. It's caused by a faulty gene
that disrupts the movement of salt