13 October 2021 - Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada today announced that it has completed negotiations with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance for a letter of intent for Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec) for the treatment of paediatric patients with 5q spinal muscular atrophy with bi-allelic mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 gene and 3 or fewer copies of SMN2 gene; or infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy.
"This is encouraging news for the SMA community across Canada," said Susi Vander Wyk, Executive Director, Cure SMA Canada. "However, motor neuron damage from SMA won't stop while the provincial reimbursement process continues. We hope that provinces move swiftly to add Zolgensma to their drug plans. Access to Zolgensma will offer children with SMA the possibility of disease stabilization, drastically changing the outcome of this disease."