NICE Says More Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients Eligible for Spinraza

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that more spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients may receive Biogen’s Spinraza (nusinersen) — one of the world’s most expensive drugs — through the National Health Service.

The drug first began being administered in the UK in 2019 under a managed access agreement between the company and the regulators. In a new review, NICE concluded that type III SMA patients who aren’t able to walk can now receive the treatment.

Spinraza costs approximately $750,000 during the first year of treatment and $375,000 for each subsequent year.