We are ecstatic to announce a landmark victory for the Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) community in Scotland.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has issued a positive recommendation for Spinraza (nusinersen) for individuals with SMA Types 2 and 3. This means the treatment will be routinely available on the NHS in Scotland with Scottish clinicians and families having the flexibility to select the most appropriate therapy.

Our CEO Giles Lomax said ”Following on from the SMC committee meeting last month, we are delighted to see that a positive result has come through. This means Scotland is the first country in the UK to have all three licensed disease-modifying treatments for SMA routinely available on the NHS.”

Our focus now shifts to ensuring equitable access across the rest of the UK. We will continue to use the success and flexibility demonstrated by the SMC to push for similar outcomes across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

See SMC website for final guidance, here.

Biogen Commented:
Biogen is delighted to advise that following a re-assessment under the ultra-orphan framework, nusinersen is approved for use within Scotland for patients with symptomatic type 2 or type 3 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Nusinersen has been routinely commissioned in Scotland for type 1 SMA since May 2018. Scotland is the first country in the UK where all three available treatments for SMA are routinely available for eligible patients. 

We look forward to working with local services and NHS Health Boards in Scotland to ensure that people living with SMA are offered choice of treatment and able to access nusinersen close to home.  

Biogen would like to thank the patient and clinical community for their continued commitment to improve outcomes for those living with SMA.