Posted by Michael Wonder on 24 Jul 2018
Cystic fibrosis patients launch class-action suit over access to costly drug
24 July 2018 - A young Victoria woman with cystic fibrosis who fought to get coverage of a life-changing drug has joined a class-action lawsuit against the government.
Lilia Zaharieva launched a campaign last year after her University of Victoria health plan cut off her access to Orkambi, a drug that can slow disease progression and increase lung function for people with cystic fibrosis.
The drug, made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, comes with a price tag of about $250,000 for a year's supply. It's approved by Health Canada but is not covered under provincial health insurance.
