Five-Month-Old Baby Becomes First NHS Patient to Receive Zolgensma Drug for Genetic Condition
Source: SKY News
A five-month-old baby with a spinal disorder has become the first NHS patient in England to be treated with a potentially life-saving drug that can prolong life. Arthur Morgan was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) earlier this month.
He received the one-off US gene therapy, Zolgensma, at Evelina London Children’s Hospital on 25 May. The treatment has been called the most expensive drug in the world – with a list price of £1.79m per dose.
Until two years ago, no treatment options were available for children with the condition.
Babies born with Type 1 SMA – the most common form of the condition – experience progressive muscle weakness, loss of movement, difficulty breathing, and have a life expectancy of just two years. But studies have found that a single Zolgensma treatment can help babies with the condition to sit, crawl and walk, and also prevented them from having to be put on a ventilator.
For the full article, click here: https://news.sky.com/story/five-month-old-baby-becomes-first-nhs-patient-to-receive-drug-for-genetic-condition-12321853
