The NHS is trying to persuade the manufacturer of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills to reduce the price Getty ImagesChildren with cystic fibrosis are among patients caught in a stand-off between the NHS and a drug company over the cost of a daily pill to prevent HIV after the Court of Appeal ruled that health chiefs could not wriggle out of paying. NHS England said that drug firms would be to blame if “excessively high pricing” meant that the health service could no longer afford nine treatments for cancer and other conditions because it had to pay for the HIV drug. Aids campaigners said they were delighted after NHS England lost its appeal against a High Court ruling that it was responsible for funding pre- exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which reduces the risk of infection in gay men by almost 90 per cent. NHS bosses…

Source: The Times November 11, 2016 00:54 UTC