The Tánaiste has said drug companies cannot be allowed hold countries or patients to ransom.

Frances Fitzgerald has been quizzed in the Dáil after the National Centre for PharmaEconomics ruled that Orkambi which is used to treat cystic fibrosis is too expensive.

It is understood that the manufacturer Vertex may be willing to re-negotiate it’s €158,000 a year per patient price.

The Tánaiste says drug companies have to be reasonable: “I want to welcome the decision that was taken yesterday for example, by Bristol-Myers Squibb in relation to continuing to give another drug to making it available in a compassionate way to people at this point.

“And it is very important, indeed critical that drug companies do not hold countries or patients to ransom in terms of pricing and the real challenge of course for new drugs is the very high prices sought by manufacturers.”

The Tánaiste said that she agrees with the head of the National Centre for PharmaEconomics, who ruled the drug is too expensive.

“Dr Barry made it absolutely clear this morning that he felt, in his expert opinion, that the manufacturers of this product have got it wrong when it comes to pricing,” she said.

“Now obviously what we want to ensure is that patients recive the drugs that they need.”