Alyftrek

Alyftrek, previously known as the vanza triple, is a new triple combination modulator therapy that has been approved on the NHS. It is made up of tezacaftor, one of the modulators used in Kaftrio, as well as two new modulators called vanzacaftor and deutivacaftor. 

This combination gives longer lasting benefit. This means people only need to take one dose per day.

Alyftrek is designed to increase the amount of CFTR protein that your body can use. It also improves the flow of salt and water between cells. Like Kaftrio, it can improve sweat chloride levels, lung function and other symptoms of CF. Alyftrek is taken once a day which some people may prefer.

Scientists have looked at whether Alyftrek is as effective as Kaftrio for people with CF with certain gene variants.

One study looked at the effects of Alyftrek in around 400 people with CF. They were aged 12 and older and had one F508del CFTR gene variant and one minimal function CFTR gene variant. A minimal function CFTR gene variant is a change in a gene that makes the CFTR protein not work properly or stop working. This can cause more serious symptoms in people with cystic fibrosis. 

A second study looked at Alyftrek in a larger group of more than 550 people aged 12 and older with at least one CFTR gene variant that is responsive to modulators like Kaftrio. 

The trials followed participants over one year. All participants began by taking Kaftrio for four weeks. They were then randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group received Alyftrek  and the other continued on Kaftrio.

We’ve published summaries of these results on the Trials Tracker listings as part of our work to make clinical trial results more accessible.

Yes. Alyftrek is available on the NHS in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

In July 2025, NICE confirmed that Alyftrek would be made available on the NHS in England. This followed a formal appraisal of the medicine, which reviewed cost-effectiveness. The Trust submitted evidence to this review, sharing the experiences and potential impact for people with CF. 

In March 2025, Alyftrek was approved for use by MHRA, the UK agency responsible for ensuring medicines are safe.

Alyftrek is now available on the NHS in Scotland for people over 6 years old, with the same criteria as the rest of the rest of the UK. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) assessed Alyftrek separately to NICE and announced their decision on Monday 9 March 2026. You can read more about this on the SMC website.

People with CF can now discuss with their CF team about starting Alyftrek if they feel it would be suitable for them.

Alyftrek is available to people over 6 years old who have at least one mutation, also known as a variant, that is not class 1. This means you could have one class 1 mutation so long as the other is a different class.

Class 1 variants are when the body does not produce any working CFTR protein. There are many different Class 1 variants and examples include G542X, W1282X and r553x.

Speak to your CF team if you have any questions about whether you are eligible to take Alyftrek. 

Yes, Alyftrek is effective and safe for children. Children 6 years old and older are able to take this medicine. 

A study looked at the effects of Alyftrek in children aged 6 to 11. 78 children with at least one CFTR gene variant that is responsive to modulator therapies like Kaftrio took part. They were asked to take Kaftrio for four weeks followed by Alyftrek for up to 24 weeks. 

The study findings were similar to the previous studies for older children and adults. Sweat chloride levels dropped after they began taking Alyftrek. At 24 weeks, 19 in 20 children in the study had sweat chloride levels that were below the level to be diagnosed with CF. Most of them had sweat chloride levels below the level to be diagnosed as a carrier.

Another clinical trial is now underway looking at Alyftrek for children aged 1 year and older. This trial will look at the effects of Alyftrek in this age group over a couple of years. We will share the findings from this study when they are made available. This study will help to understand if Alyftrek can be recommended as a treatment for this age group. 

The Cystic Fibrosis Medical Association (CFMA) has advised this will be a decision for people with CF and their CF team to make together. It will be based on the potential risks and benefits and the person with CF’s preference.

We know that modulators do not work for everyone, and we will not stop until everyone with CF can access the treatments and medicines they need. We will continue to invest money in life-saving research to find treatments for all. 

We are funding lab-based research studies that could benefit people with rare mutations who currently are not eligible for modulators. Early phase genetic therapy clinical trials are also now recruiting a few people with CF in the UK. They’re in the very early stages, but they hold a lot of promise for the future. You can take a look at genetic therapy clinical trials for CF on our Trials Tracker.

We’re also working actively to improve the day-to-day symptoms of everyone with CF. This includes developing better treatments for infections that are becoming resistant to current medicines. We’re doing this by funding research directly and supporting researchers in universities and in the pharmaceutical industry through the CF AMR Syndicate initiative run in partnership with Medicines Discovery Catapult and LifeArc.

While Kaftrio has had huge benefits for many people with CF, not everyone can tolerate or benefit from these modulators in the same way. We need more choices so people with CF have more opportunity to access treatments that work best for them.

A new trial currently looking for participants is aiming to learn more about the effects of Kaftrio in children aged 12 months to younger than 24 months. Kaftrio has been approved for children aged 2 years and older, but has not yet been approved for this age group.

Research is continuing to look at improving modulator options for everyone with CF. You can read about a recent study, that looked at a new triple combination modulator therapy in people with rare gene variants who are not eligible for Kaftrio. Recruitment for this study is now closed.

The CFMA welcome the approval of Alyfrek, which may offer an important alternative for some people with CF who are already treated with Kaftrio, or be an option for a small number of people who are not eligible for current therapies or have not been able to tolerate them. CF remains a condition without a cure and while improvements to therapies is good news, ongoing challenges exist for people with the condition. CF clinical teams will continue to work to achieve excellent health outcomes and quality of life for all, and we hope that in the future, new therapies will become available for people with CF, particularly for those who do not respond to existing therapies.