National Strategy for Disabled People: Survey Launched
22 January 2021 / Posted in: Information, Support
The public survey is a chance for disabled people and their carers, friends and family, to share views and life experiences. The responses will help the government understand the barriers faced by disabled people and what it can do to improve disabled people's lives.
NCB - Living Assessments Recruitment
15 January 2021 / Posted in: Information, Support
Are you a young person or parent with experience of having had a social care assessment? Living Assessments is a five-year project from the National Children's Bureau looking at the decision-making process for providing social care support to children and families, the impact of that support, and the lived experiences of assessments.
Adept Field Solutions - Research Project
15 January 2021 / Posted in: Information, Support
Market researchers Adept Field Solutions are running a project, sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, seeking the views of people in the UK who are living with SMA and their families / partners / caregivers. Those who take part will receive £50.
First patient treated in Biogen’s global RESPOND study of nusinersen, following treatment with Zolgensma™
11 January 2021 / Posted in: Treatments & Research
The Phase 4 open-label, multicentre study will examine the clinical benefit and safety of nusinersen treatment in infants and children with SMA who have unmet clinical needs following previous treatment with Zolgensma.
AMRC - Write to Boris Johnson to Save Charity-Funded Medical Research
11 January 2021 / Posted in: Information, Treatments & Research, Support
AMRC has reported on the devastating impact of covid on medical research charities who have had to make drastic cuts to their research funding. You can sign AMRC's letter calling for the Government to provide vital funding support to protect medical research and patients.
DBC Survey: Your Views on Increasing Legacy Benefits by £20 a Week
08 January 2021 / Posted in: Information, Support
In March, in response to Covid-19, the Government increased the standard rate of Universal Credit and working tax credits by £20 a week. The Government, however, has not increased ‘legacy benefits’ in the same way. The DBC is calling for urgent action to make sure the 2 million disabled people and others on legacy benefits are not left behind. Share your views on this in their survey, by 18th January.
Information Statement about how Access to Nusinersen Treatment is Affected by COVID-19
08 January 2021 / Posted in: Treatments & Research
In April 2020, advice from clinical experts and discussions with the Patient Groups informed a statement from NICE, NHS England and NHS Improvement. NICE have reviewed this and confirm that the flexibility and guidance in this statement remains in place.
Children with SMA and Covid 19 - Spanish Study
06 January 2021 / Posted in: Treatments & Research
A study by the Spanish Society for Pediatric Neurology of a small number of children with SMA who caught COVID-19 concludes that, "The course of COVID-19 in children with neuromuscular disorders may not be as severe as expected…". The authors do though advise that their study, "has several limitations worth noting”.
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Joins the Risdiplam EAMS for Adults
23 December 2020 / Posted in: Treatments & Research
We are pleased to have received notice that the Trust’s Joint Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (JDTC) has now made this decision, joining more than 15 other Trusts prescribing risdiplam via the Early Access to Medicines Scheme. Adults, clinicians and patient groups worked hard to provide information to enable the Committee to reach this position.
Roche - End of Year Summary
21 December 2020 / Posted in: Treatments & Research
Roche has provided SMA Europe with a summary of their global activities carried out this year which may be of interest. This includes information about the risdiplam clinical development programme and progress towards their goal of making risdiplam available to all patients who may benefit from the treatment.
