Cheri Nel, an investment banker from Johannesburg, recently ended a groundbreaking court case against Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Nel sought a compulsory licence from the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria to import generic versions of Trikafta, a cystic fibrosis medication that had not been granted compulsory licences in South Africa before.
Trikafta, known as a “miracle” treatment for cystic fibrosis, drastically improves the quality of life for those with the condition. It was initially inaccessible in South Africa, leading people to go to Argentina for a generic version due to Vertex’s unwillingness to register the medicine locally. Nel’s legal battle aimed at making Trikafta more accessible to South Africans at a reasonable price.
The case was dropped as Vertex started providing Trikafta in South Africa at a significantly lower cost than originally feared. Nel shifted her focus towards advocating for government support in providing the medication to public sector patients, marking a significant step in ensuring access to life-changing treatment in the country.
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