Vertex and NHS reach agreement for “Landmark” CF therapy deal

Vertex has achieved an agreement with NHS England to reimburse its triple combination therapy Kaftrio (ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor) in combination with Kalydeco (ivacaftor), should the medicine win European approval. The new expanded agreement includes reimbursed access to Vertex’ currently licensed medicines – Kalydeco (ivacaftor), Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) and Symkevi (tezacaftor/ivacaftor), as well as the triple combination therapy if

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NHS and Microsoft sign significant deal for digital tools

NHSX, NHS Digital and Microsoft have signed a ‘landmark’ deal which will save the NHS ‘hundreds of millions of pounds’ and enable all eligible organisations in England to access Microsoft 365 digital tools. According to NHS Digital, the agreement ‘guarantees significant cost savings for both individual NHS organisations and the NHS as a whole’, and

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NHS launches new online support for diabetes management

NHS England has launched new online services allowing those with diabetes to better manage their condition remotely during the coronavirus pandemic. A range of online videos and training will be available for children and adults, which will include advice on treatment and care and adopting healthy behaviours on diet and exercise, complementing video consultations with

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Analysis by CRUK reveals 2 million are waiting for cancer care due to Coronavirus

According to Cancer Research UK, approximately 2.4 million people in the UK are currently waiting for cancer screening, tests or cancer treatment. The charity says COVID-19 has caused ‘enormous disruption’ to cancer services throughout the UK, with delays to cancer treatment, screening and diagnosis, and ‘huge decreases’ in urgent referrals to hospital of patients with

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NHS England confirms 4 new integrated care systems

NHS England has confirmed four new integrated care systems (ICS) in England, joining the 14 already in existence plus two devolved health systems in Greater Manchester and Surrey. The action leads to around half of England’s population now being served by such a system, including the whole of Yorkshire (with the confirmation of an ICS

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Increase NHS testing capacity for COVID-19 testing, FDA ceases foreign inspections

The coronavirus pandemic has caused global health authorities and agencies to introduce new measures as respective governments respond to growing outbreaks. That includes the NHS which announced today that it will increase its capabilities to test for the coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease known as COVID-19. Currently, 1,500 tests can be carried out per

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