The Director General of the Health Service Executive says it is too early to say if new talks will see Orkambi provided for cystic fibrosis patients.

Negotiations resumed today after breaking down when the manufacturer, Vertex demanded nearly €160,000 per patient per year for the drug.

Tony O’Brien says they can not allow the drug company charge what they like: “Obviously we want all our patients to feel the benefits of technological advancements, including drugs advancement.

“But we cannot do so on the basis of individual companies seeking to charge unjustified and astronomical prices, which would only have the effect of encouraging more to act like that.”