Press release
Vertex Announces CASGEVY® Reimbursement Agreement for the Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease in England
- Agreement means eligible sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in England now have access to CASGEVY - - Agreement for CASGEVY in transfusion-dependent beta
About this update from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
[{"type":"text","content":"\n- Agreement means eligible sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in England now have access to CASGEVY -\n\n\n- Agreement for CASGEVY in transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT) was previously reached in August 2024 -\n\n\n LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nVertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VRTX) announced today a reimbursement agreement with NHS England for eligible sickle cell disease (SCD) patients to access the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited therapy, CASGEVY® (exagamglogene autotemcel).\n\n\nThe reimbursement agreement comes as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issues positive guidance recommending CASGEVY’s use in the NHS. It means that eligible SCD patients in England now have access to the therapy following the prior agreement for transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT) patients announced last August.\n\n\n“Today is an important day for the sickle cell community who have gone too long without treatments that address the underlying cause of their devastating disease,” said Ludovic Fenaux, Senior Vice President, Vertex International. “We are pleased to have reached this new agreement that ensures both eligible SCD and TDT patients can now be treated with CASGEVY, recognizing the value a one-time treatment can provide to patients, their families and the healthcare system.”\n\n\nThe administration of the therapy requires experience in stem cell transplantation and the management of hemoglobinopathies; therefore, Vertex is continuing to engage with experienced hospitals throughout England to establish a network of independently operated authorized treatment centers (ATCs).\n\n\nAbout Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)\n\n\nSCD is a debilitating, progressive, life-shortening genetic disease. SCD patients report health-related quality of life scores well below the general population and significant health care resource utilization. SCD affects the red blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen to all organs and tissues of the body. SCD causes severe pain, organ damage and shortened life span due to misshapen or “sickled” red blood cells. The clinical hallmark of SCD is vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), which are caused by blockages of blood vessels by sickled red blood cells and result in severe and debilitating pain that can happen anywhere in the body at any time. SCD requires lifelong treatment and significant...