We, the undersigned, are clinicians, health professionals and scientists. We lead CF centres, conduct basic and clinical research, and work directly with patients and families affected by the disease. Many of us have dedicated our careers to improving the lives of those with CF.
We are united in our belief that every cystic fibrosis patient in every country has an equitable right to life and access to lifesaving CFTR modulator treatment.
We note with deep dismay, the disparity in access to modulator treatments in the global north and global south, with no low or middle income country having secured an agreement with Vertex to supply their patients with the best-in-class combination therapy, elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (Trikafta/Kaftrio).
It is clear that Vertex’s pricing strategy represents a formidable barrier to universal access to treatment, and despite the wealth these medicines have generated for the company, little visible effort has been invested by Vertex to help patients in countries unable to afford treatment.
We have seen first hand the devastating and painful suffering cystic fibrosis inflicts on patients who are unable to access effective treatment. Therefore we celebrate the achievements of all those involved in the development of these life changing medications. However, we cannot, in all conscience, accept that the benefits of these drugs are only felt by those lucky enough to be born in a country that can afford to pay Vertex’s prices.
We therefore fully endorse all efforts to secure access for every patient around the world, including the Right to Breathe campaign, and urge Vertex to urgently take all necessary steps to ensure everyone has access, including dramatically lowering their prices and publishing a comprehensive, sustainable and transparent global access strategy as soon as possible.
SIGNED BY
Jenn Stewart (USA) - Nurse Practioner
Fadi Asfour (USA) - MD Associate Professor of Paediatric Pulmonology
Ela Erdem Eralp (Turkey) - MD
Yasemin Gokdemir (Turkey) MD - Paediatric Pulmonology
Marco Zampoli (South Africa) - MD
Jonathan Guo (UK) - MB BS/MD
Samya Nasr (USA) - MD
Pavla Hodkova (Czech Republic) - Psychologist
Nataliya Kashirskaya (Russia) - MD
Jacqui Wainwrght (UK) - CF Social Worker
Jocelyn Chayce (UK) - Physio
Jacqueline Boeuhoff (Netherlands) - Social Worker
Yasemin Mocan Caglar (Turkey) - Paediatric Pulmonology
Zeynep Reyuer Omay (Turkey) - Paediatric Pulmonology
Fusun Unal (Turkey) - Paediatric Pulmonology
Dodo Agladze (Turkey) - Paediatric Geneticist
Meltem Akoul Erdal (Turkey) - Paediatric Pulmonology
Ratiye Atan (Turkey) - Paediatric Pulmonology
Burcu Çapraz Yavuz (Turkey) - Paediatric Pulmonology
Nazan Cobanoglu (Turkey) - Paediatric Pulmonology
Lyudmiya Bober (Ukraine) - MD
Halyna Makukh (Ukraine) - Geneticist
Ciara McCann (Northern Ireland) - Social Worker
Ugur Ozgelik (Turkey) - MD Professor
Catherine Brown (UK) - Physio
Nataliya Sinchuk (Ukraine) - Geneticist Pediatrics
Shirley Oleva (Northern Ireland) - Social Worker
Virginiya Kalmauskaite-Zukauske (Lithuania) - Physician
Ebru Yalgin (Turkey) - MD Professor
Saniye Girit (Turkey) - MD Professor
Helen Barr (UK) - Consultant
Lidiya Spirevsa (Northen Macedonia) - MD
Valentine Cvejosur (Northen Macedonia) - MD
Annemarie Tiesinga (The Netherlands) - Nurse for children with CF
Sophie Teear (United Kingdom) - Occupational therapist
Bart Rottier (Netherlands) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Cristina Fevola (Italy) - Biologist
Shannon O'Connor (New Zealand) - Community Engagement - Health
Kincs Judit (Hungary) - Clinician
Zsolt Bene (Hungary) - Medical doctor
Edith Zemanick (United States) - Physician
Stacey Martiniano (USA) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Olga (Lithuania) - Doctor
Gabrielė Vitkauskaitė (Lithuania) - Nurse Assisant
Aušvilė (Lithuania) - Nurse Anesthetist
Kristina (Ireland) - Physiotherapy
Rasa (Lithuania) - Occupational therapist
Abby Good (United States ) - Physical Therapist
Edita Sergejeva (Germany) - Doctor
Inesa (Belgium) - Psychologist
Gabrielė (Lithuania) - Psychologist
Romualda (Lithuania) - Pulmonologist- radiologist
Scarlett Pledger (England) - Medical student
Dr Haji Sheeraz Khan (United Kingdome) - Doctor
Cheryl Baig (United Kingdom) - Dietitian
Paula Tran (England) - Pharmacist
Teresa Schindler (United States) - Dietitian
Manuel cervantes (Mexico) - Student
Stephen Hart (United Kingdom) - CF Researcher
Helen Egan (United Kingdon) - Professor in Health Psychology
Bradley Quon (Canada) - Physician
Margarida D Amaral (Portugal) - Professor, Researcher
Frederico (Portugal) - Master degree Student
Daniela Neugebauer (Germany) - Biologist
Joana Alves (Ireland) - PhD Student Researcher
Ciara Gavin (Ireland) - Research Assistant in CF Lab
Sofia Correia (Portugal) - Lab Manager
Hugo Botelho (Portugal) - Researcher
Dr Anupama Menon (India) - Pediatric pulmonologist
Dr. Jijo Joseph John (India) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Parmarth Chandane (India) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Lisa Lonetti (Ireland) - Research assistant
Sarath Balaji (India) - Doctor
Dr. K. Venugopal (India) - Pulmonologist/ CF Care Physician
Chirag Thakur (India) - DM Fellow Pediatric Pulmonology
Saurav Jain (India) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Priyanka Medhi (India) - Paediatrician
Madhan Kumar (India) - Pulmonologist
Dr Sarika Gupta (India ) - Professor Pediatrics KGMU Lucknow Uttar Pradesh India
Rashmi Ranjan Das (India) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Dr Vivek Gupta (India) - Doctor Orthopedic surgeon
Dr Antony Terance Benjamin (India) - Pediatric pulmonologist
Pawankalyan Pinnamaneni (India) - Pediatric pulmonologist
Pallab Chatterjee (India) - Pediatrician
Aparna.Reddy (India) - Pediatric pulmonologist
Dr NC Gowrishankar (India) - Pediatrician
Aparna Reddy (India) - Doctor Ped pulmonologist
Dr Partha Pratim Borah (India) - Pediatrician
Venkatesh Chandrasekaran (India) - Additional Professor of Pediatrics
Cathy Baird (South Africa) - Medical doctor; special interest in adult cystic fibrosis
Leo Thanikkel (Switzerland) - Paediatric pulmonologist
Tanja Gonska (Canada) - CF physician
Rashmi Kapoor (India) - Doctor
Srinivas Jakka (India) - Paediatric pulmonologist
Prawin Kumar (India) - Pediatrics Pulmonology
Atul Rane (India) - Pediatrician
Ilin kinimi (India) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Nagarjun (India) - Pediatric Pulmonology
Saurav Jain (India) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Dr Ian Balfour-Lynn (UK) - Respiratory paediatrician
Cami Long (South Africa) - Student
Gabriela Vazquez Esparza (Mexico) - Surgeon and ultrasound specialist
Moreno Veronica (Mexico) - MD
David Richard (South Africa) - Paediatric Pulmonologist
Nada Mohamed Saad (Egypt) - CF Social worker
Amina Alaaeldin (Egypt) - Doctor
Mariam Saad Mohamed (Egypt) - Biotechnology student
Cary-Anne Gissing (South Africa) - Physiotherapist
Ashleigh van Tonder (South Africa) - Biokineticist
Erica Shaddock (South Africa) - Pulmonologist
Ismail Sikander Kalla (South Africa) - Adult Pulmonologist
Anita Graham (South Africa) - Pulmonologist
Rajen Morar (South Africa) - Pulmonologist
Marelize Fischer-Gerber (South Africa) - Medical doctor
AE Mowat (South Africa) - Medical doctor
Dr.A Brandt (South Africa) - Medical doctor
Anja Smit (South Africa) - General Practitioner
Sanmari Van Zyl (South Africa) - Doctor
Aviva Smulowitz (South Africa) - Physiotherapist
Dr May Jay (UK) - General Practitioner
Kyla (South Africa) - Doctor
Farzana Kader (South Africa) - Dietician
Hanri Turner (South Africa) - Registered Nurse
Mari Geldenhuys (South Africa ) - Doctor
Agnieška Diktanienė (Lithuania) - Internist
Ruta Povilaityte (Lithuania) - Nurse practitioner
Ausrine (Lithuania) - Cosmetologist
Agne Buivyduene (Lithuania) - Nurse
Ernesta (Lithuania ) - Otorhinolaryngologist
Ruta Suipiene (Lithuania) - Pediatrician
Živilė (Lithuania) - Nurse
Evelina (Lithuania) - Nurse
Arnoldas Morozas (Lithuania) - MD ENT
Raminta Stuopelytė (Lithuania) - Medical doctor
Ingrida Bagdonaite (Lithuania) - Nurse anaesthetist
Paulina Maceniene (Lithuania) - Emergency medical services nurse
Dalia (Lithuania) - Doctor
Prof. Brenda Morrow (South Africa) - Physiotherapist
Bianca (South Africa) - BPharm
Elizma Beytell (South Africa) - RN transplant coordinator
Gerhard (South Africa) - Physiotherapist
Hetty Smit (South Africa) - Nurse
Riana Buys (South Africa) - Professional Nurse
Paulina Maceniene (Lithuania) - Emergency medical services nurse
Estelle Swanepoel (South Africa) - Registered Nurse
Frank Crous (South Africa) - Registered Nurse
Nicolene Botha (South Africa) - Clinical Nurse Practitioner
Eloise Reinert (Brazil) - Physiotherapist
Beatrice Nthatisi (South Africa) - Professional Nurse
Simona (Lithuania) - Nurse
Giedre Levickiene (Lithuania) - Otorhinolaryngologist
Mariam (Egypt ) - CF social worker
Aviva Smulowitz (South Africa ) - Physiotherapist
Janke Draper (South Africa) - Dietitian
Linda Venter (South Africa) - Pharmacist
Trish Vaccarino (Australia ) - Disability Support Worker
Tascha Meredith (South Africa) - Clinical Psychologist
Chantel do Cabeco (South Sfrica) - Pharmacist
Sarit Sifrid (South Africa) - Social worker
Sarah Warren (United Kingdom ) - SN home carer
Pavny Chawla (India) - Pulmonologist
Dr Mandeep Walia (India) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Vibhor Borkar (India) - Paediatric Hepatologist
Wayne Gordon (South Africa ) - General Practitioner (Adult CF)
Lindy Gouws (South Africa ) - General Practitioner (Adult CF)
Christene van Brakel (South Africa ) - Transplant coordinator
Nico Els (South Africa) - General Practitioner
Caroline Chaloner (United States) - Physical Therapist
Elaine Bognar (USA) - Pediatric Resident
Charity Sparks (United States) - Program Coordinator
Jess Takatsuki-Jordan (USA) - Physical Therapist
Jonathan Grant (United States) - Pharmacist
Shannon P. Williams, DO (USA) - Physician
Connie Chen (United States) - Pediatric gastroenterologist
Shaili Rajput (United States) - Pediatrician
Abarnaa Illango (Canada) - Medical student
Amber Elliott (United States) - Pharmacist
Cailin Stollar (USA) - Research Coordinator
Folashade Afolabi, MD (USA ) - Pediatric Pulmonology
Jessica Wagner (United States) - Medical Assistant
Kamyron Jordan (United States) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Brooke Moore, MD, MPH (United States) - Pediatric pulmonologist
Erin Carner (United States) - Nurse Practitioner
Angel Serafini (United States) - Genetic Counseling
Priya Balaji (USA) - Research Coordinator
Victoria Estes (USA) - Clinical Research Coordinator
Shelby Leblanc (USA) - Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
Eric Walter (United States) - Physician
Caitlyn Talbert (United States) - Pediatric Dietitian
Dennis Schellhase (United States) - Pediatric Pulmonologist, Center Director
Katherine Nash APRN-CNP, FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC (United States of America ) - Nurse practitioner
Julie Semenchuk (Canada) - Resident Physician
Charity Sparks (United States) - Program Coordinator
Subha Sellers (United States) - Physician
Elizabeth Gibb (United States) - Pediatric Pulmonary Physician
Pavel Drevinek (Czech Republic) - MD
Liam Connaughton (UK) - Nurse Practitioner
Caitlyn Talbert (United States) - Pediatric Dietitian
Jessica van det Westhuizen (South Africa) - Tax administrator
Claire Wilson (England) - CF parent carer
William Stoudmire (United States) - Pediatric Pulmonologist
Julie Hanna (Northern Ireland ) - Paediatric Specialist CF Nurse
Juanita Biggs (South Africa ) - Psychologist in Practice and CF patient
Jessica Wagner (United States) - Medical Assistant
Charissa Kam (United States) - Pediatric Pharmacist
Eden Ventura (Canada) - Social Worker
Holger Link (USA) - Pulmonologist
