ABOUT RIGHT
TO BREATHE
We are a group of patients, families and advocates from across the world standing up to big pharma greed and fighting for affordable access to lifesaving cystic fibrosis medicines.
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening genetic disease that affects over 100,000 people across the world. Without good treatment and care, life expectancy is less than 15 years.
With charitable and taxpayer support, US pharma company Vertex Pharmaceuticals developed medicines that can transform the length and quality of life of CF patients. Yet only about 25% have access. This is because Vertex holds a monopoly on these medicines, and is charging an obscene $326,000 per patient per year.
This means the vast majority of CF patients globally cannot afford access. Children like Milda in Lithuania. Vihaan in India. Janco in South Africa. All of them are being left to suffer and die without treatment, simply because a company cares about nothing other than profit.
The Right to Breathe campaign is a coalition of CF patients, families and advocates fighting to challenge this injustice and secure global access to lifesaving CF treatment. If you agree that no drug should cost a life, take action with us today!
WHO WE ARE.
Right to Breathe is a collaborative campaign run by Vertex Save Us and Just Treatment.
Vertex Save Us is a group of CF patients and family members from over 60 countries across the world who have been campaigning for global access to Vertex’s drugs since 2020.
Just Treatment is a UK-based patient-led organisation founded in 2017 to campaign for a health system which puts patients’ lives before private profits.
Vertex Save Us and Just Treatment have joined forces on this vital global campaign - because for years Vertex have been ignoring the voices of CF patients across the world. Enough is enough.
Our movement has already fought for and won access to CF medicine in the UK - but we will not stop until every patient, everywhere has the lifesaving treatment they need.
OUR DEMANDS.
Both Vertex and national governments have a role to play in ensuring that every cystic fibrosis patient can access effective, affordable CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) treatment.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals:
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Immediately commit to dropping all patent claims on CFTR drugs in low and middle income countries
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Facilitate generic supply by filing for registration across the world
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Agree reimbursement deals in all high income countries within six months, facilitating generic access where any agreement has not been struck
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Safeguard the health and livelihoods of CF patients by dropping prices in all markets and immediately reversing the reduction in US co-pay support by committing to cover all out of pocket expenses of American patients.
National governments:
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Support requests for, or enact, compulsory licences and other actions that would break Vertex’s monopoly and ensure lifesaving access to CFTRs if Vertex refuses to offer affordable prices
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Initiate or expand comprehensive diagnostics, treatment and care programmes for all CF patients.