A South African family is breathing new hope into the lives of children with cystic fibrosis after a generic version of an expensive treatment became available. The disease, which causes a buildup of mucus in the lungs and digestive system, was once a death sentence for most sufferers as young adults.
But now 99.5% cheaper, the generic medicine could be life-saving. A seven-year-old boy, Grant Leitch's question to his mother if his little brother would die from cystic fibrosis highlights how high prices have been crippling access to modern treatments worldwide. The new drug is being sold by pharmaceutical company Vertex for $370,000 a year but a generic manufacturer has reduced the cost to just $2,000 a year.
Years of parent-led campaigning led to this breakthrough and in many countries including Bangladesh, it can be obtained at a much lower price due to different intellectual property laws. The new treatment allows patients to live normal lives, making significant progress since most cystic fibrosis sufferers were dying as young adults.
But now 99.5% cheaper, the generic medicine could be life-saving. A seven-year-old boy, Grant Leitch's question to his mother if his little brother would die from cystic fibrosis highlights how high prices have been crippling access to modern treatments worldwide. The new drug is being sold by pharmaceutical company Vertex for $370,000 a year but a generic manufacturer has reduced the cost to just $2,000 a year.
Years of parent-led campaigning led to this breakthrough and in many countries including Bangladesh, it can be obtained at a much lower price due to different intellectual property laws. The new treatment allows patients to live normal lives, making significant progress since most cystic fibrosis sufferers were dying as young adults.
! its crazy how something that used to be so expensive and life-threatening can become so affordable and lifesaving 
. i mean, $370k a year was just insane and now its like 99.5% cheaper 
. the fact that years of campaigning by parents led to this breakthrough is truly inspiring 
. its also great to see how different countries are adapting to these new laws about intellectual property and making life-saving meds more accessible 
. cant wait to hear more about this progress and how it's impacting families like Grants 
. Don't get me wrong, it's awesome that a generic version of the treatment is available and prices are being slashed, but where did all that money go in the first place? $370,000 a year is still a crazy amount of cash for a single kid to pay, even if it does save his life 
. And let's not forget about the parents who have been fighting for this treatment for years - they've already spent a small fortune on advocacy and fundraising efforts 
?
The fact that this generic version is 99.5% cheaper means that families in South Africa (and everywhere else) can finally breathe a sigh of relief 
.
. And now, thanks to their tireless efforts, we're seeing real progress 
- cystic fibrosis sufferers are living longer, healthier lives because they can access affordable treatments 
. I'm hoping that this is the start of a bigger trend where pharmaceutical companies are forced to rethink their pricing strategies and make treatments more accessible for everyone 
. Fingers crossed! 
and the best part is it's life-saving for kids with cystic fibrosis who were basically facing death as young adults 
the fact that a seven-year-old boy's question to his mom about whether his little bro would die from the disease highlights how crazy high prices can be 
so glad theres progress being made thanks 2 all the parents who led campaigns & fought for accessibility 
. It's not just about saving money, though - being able to live normal lives without constant hospital trips and whatnot must be a total game-changer 
. Vertex needs to keep pushing for more affordable treatments, especially when it comes to life-saving meds 
!
i mean who would've thot 99.5% cheaper = life saving??? 
but seriously, its like, a total game changer! all those yrs of campaigning by parents & advocates led to this breakthrough & now kids can actualy live normal lifes 
& its not just SA fam, Bangladesh too has access 2 this meds cuz their laws r diff 
so lets all jus say THANK U 2 all those parents & advocates out there who didnt give up 
i'm so proud of all those parents who fought tirelessly to make this happen - you guys are literally lifesavers 
a $370k/year pill 
that was basically a death sentence is now just $2k/year 
the fact that years of campaigning led to this breakthrough is so inspiring 
these meds can make all the difference in saving lives 
. It's like, yeah, this treatment can actually save lives and give people a chance at living normal lives.
I mean, don't get me wrong, saving lives is great and all, but have we really thought through the long-term effects? Like, what if this cheaper version causes more problems down the line? And another thing, why did it take so many years for a generic to be created in the first place? It's just another example of how the pharmaceutical industry loves to make bank off our suffering...