Family considers moving to Scotland to access cystic fibrosis drug for daughter

A couple from Carlisle say they are 'seriously considering' moving to Scotland for a 'life-changing' drug that could prolong his daughter's life.

Ayda Louden was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis shortly after she was born. It's a condition that damages the lungs and drastically reduces life expectancy.

They hope the treatment, which is not available on the NHS in England, can give her a better quality of life.

Orkambi targets the root cause of the disease and would benefit around half of people living with the condition, according to the charity.

It's said to improve lung health and costs around £100,000 per person, per year, and has to be taken for life.

If the family lived just eleven miles away in Gretna, Ayda could get treatment for free.

In September 2019, the Scottish Government announced a five-year deal with Vertex - the American pharmaceutical company that manufactures the drug.

• Health watchdog rejects use of 'breakthrough' cystic fibrosis treatment on NHS

• Boy, 8, writes letter asking drug company to lower prices

• Why are negotiations still ongoing?

A deal to make the treatment available for NHS patients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has not been reached, despite it being licensed for more than three years.

A disagreement between the National Health Service in England and Vertex over the price of the drug still shows no signs of being resolved more than two years after negotiations started.

Cystic fibrosis causes the production of abnormally thick mucus, which often results in serious lung damage. Around half of the people living with disease survive past the age 40.

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