People in England will be among the first in Europe to access a new once-daily treatment for cystic fibrosis, following a recommendation in final draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Alyftrek – also known as vanzacaftor–tezacaftor–deutivacaftor and manufactured by Vertex – was licensed for use in the UK in March 2025 and will now be available immediately through the NHS in England.
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The drug will be an option for people aged six years and over with at least one F508del mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene.
The recommendation comes after a rapid assessment by NICE that compared Alyftrek with Kaftrio, Vertex’s other NICE-approved triple therapy.
NICE concluded that Alyftrek is at least as effective as Kaftrio and available at a similar cost, but offers the additional benefit of a once-daily regimen compared to Kaftrio’s twice-daily dosing.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said the decision was ‘great news for people with cystic fibrosis’ and showed commitment to ‘getting the best care to patients fast while ensuring the best value for the NHS drugs budget’.
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Ms Knight added: ‘CFTR modulators are already revolutionising the way cystic fibrosis is treated so we’re pleased to be able to recommend Alyftrek, the latest of this type of treatment that has been shown to be effective, with significant benefits for people with the condition.
Cystic fibrosis is a progressive genetic condition that limits life expectancy. Mutations in the CFTR gene prevent cells from making a protein needed to regulate sodium and chloride levels, resulting in a buildup of thick mucus in the body’s passageways.
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Vanzacaftor and tezacaftor act as CFTR correctors, increasing the amount of CFTR protein on the cell surface, while deutivacaftor improves the activity of the protein at the cell surface.
Together, these actions reduce the thickness of lung mucus and digestive fluids, helping to relieve symptoms of cystic fibrosis.
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