Health activists are demanding that the Competition Commission reopen its investigation into pharmaceutical company Vertex’s, pricing and access strategies for its revolutionary cystic fibrosis drug, Trikafta, reported Business Day (13 August 2025)
In a joint statement, the SA Cystic Fibrosis Association (SACFA) and the Health Justice Initiative (HJI) argue that access is almost exclusively limited to patients on the most expensive medical scheme plans while those on lower-tier plans or reliant on the state are denied the “life- changing” treatment.
“Vertex has avoided standard regulatory oversight by not officially registering Trikafta with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra). Instead, the drug is imported on a patient-by-patient basis using a ‘Section 21’ authorisation.”