Simon Harris ‘won’t be bullied’ by drug firm over cystic fibrosis Orkambi drug

Health Minister Simon Harris says he is not going to be “bullied or intimidated” or have taxpayers extorted by a drug company that holds the fate of people with cystic fibrosis in their hands.

“It is my job and the job of the Health Service Executive to meet the health needs of our population. The job of a drug company is to make a profit for its shareholders,” he said.

Negotiations between the HSE and drug manufacturer Vertex Pharmaceuticals on the price of the CF drug, Orkambi, restarted yesterday.