News

New UBA1 Mutation Linked to Atypical SBMA in Iranian Family

A new mutation in the UBEA1 gene was identified as the cause of an atypical form of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), or Kennedy’s disease, in four men of an Iranian family, a study shows. While UBEA1 mutations are typically associated with X-linked infantile spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which…

CADTH: Spinraza Should Not Be Funded for Adults in Canada

In its final decision, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) recommended against Spinraza (nusinersen) being reimbursed to treat adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).  The decision was met with dismay by the SMA community and Biogen, Spinraza’s manufacturer. “We are absolutely devastated for…

Zolgensma Label to Include Warning of Acute Liver Failure Deaths

Prescribing information for Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi), an approved gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), is being updated following the death of two patients who developed acute liver failure after treatment. Acute liver failure was known to be a potential severe side effect of Zolgensma, highlighted in…

31 Days of SMA: Confidence Is Key to Living With SMA

Photo courtesy of Maxwell McKnight Day 27 of 31 This is Maxwell McKnight’s (@maxwellmnight) story: Hello! My name is Maxwell. I’m 18 and have just finished my A levels. I have spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2. This September, I begin my journey into…

Perceived Physical Fatigue and Fatigability Frequent in SMA

The sense of physical fatigue and perceived fatigability, or the impact of reduced physical performance on daily life activities, are frequent and disabling symptoms in adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at different functional levels, a study showed. Such symptoms — whose frequency was generally associated with motor impairment —…