News

Ultrasound-aided Spinraza injection cuts needle redirections: Study

The use of ultrasound to guide the administration of Spinraza (nusinersen) injection into the spinal canals of adults with spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) significantly reduced the number of needle redirections compared with a standard, landmark-based approach, according to a clinical trial. Among patients with spinal deformities, ultrasound…

SMA treatment Zolgensma seen to benefit patients in real world

Treatment with Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi) improves motor function in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who carry at least four copies of the so-called backup SMN2 gene, according to real-world data from the RESTORE patient registry. SMA children treated with the approved gene therapy achieved several motor…

SMA families struggle with health information literacy: Study

Patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in China and their caregivers have low levels of health information literacy, or the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and use information to make health decisions, according to a study. In interviews, patients and caregivers indicated they had difficulties in assessing and…

Spinraza treatment improves motor function in older SMA patients

Treatment with Spinraza (nusinersen) generally stabilized or improved motor function for older patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to a review and meta-analysis of previously published observational studies. The new analysis, which spanned a treatment period of up to two years, involved adults and adolescents with…

Global metabolic disruption found in children with SMA in new study

Children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) exhibit widespread metabolic disruption — changes that affect the body’s metabolism — relative to children without SMA, according to a new Chinese study. Metabolic analyses of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, indicated metabolic disruption across…

New SMA Europe documentary aims to raise awareness on research

SMA Europe has released a new documentary titled “One Community. Shared Dreams.” as part of an awareness initiative aimed at highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers to advance the understanding of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The documentary shares the personal stories of people around…