"South Africans Fight for Access to Life-Saving Cystic Fibrosis Drug"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Guardian
South African patients with cystic fibrosis are taking legal action against Vertex Pharmaceuticals for access to the life-changing drug Trikafta, which costs $326,000 a year per patient. The lawsuit accuses the company of patent abuse and violating patients' human rights, as the drug is unaffordable for most. While Vertex defends its intellectual property rights, patients are resorting to importing a generic version from Argentina at a fraction of the cost. The legal battle highlights the challenges of accessing expensive medication in low- and middle-income countries, leaving many patients without life-saving treatment.