All About Zolgensma, The Rs 17 Crore Jab
Image: zolgensma-hcp.com
14 May 2024
A whopping Rs 17 crore for a single jab! That's the cost of one Zolgensma injection used for children under two suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
Image: Unsplash
Zolgensma is one of the world's most expensive drugs and is the only treatment that addresses the genetic cause of SMA
Image: Unsplash
It is a type of gene therapy, which means it replaces a faulty or nonworking gene to cure a disease, as per the European Medicines Agency
Image: Unsplash
It falls into the category of personalised or precision medicine because it is a drug that targets specific problems caused by a person's unique genetic code
Image: Unsplash
Zolgensma is a one-time infusion administered over one hour, aiming to improve muscle movement and developmental milestones in SMA patients
Image: Unsplash
Zolgensma costs $2.1 million in the United States. Its high cost is due to the extensive research and development involved, Forbes reported
Image: Unsplash
Moreover, the limited market size and its potential to save lives also contribute to the high price
Image: Unsplash
Zolgensma is specifically designed for children under two who are diagnosed with SMA through genetic testing
Image: Unsplash
Though it is yet to be approved in India, PTI reported that about 90 children have received Zolgensma in the last few years
Image: Unsplash
The drug can only be imported following a doctor's recommendation and government approval
Image: Unsplash
Worldwide, the incidence of SMA is one in 10,000 live-born babies and is the leading cause of death in the infantile age group
Image: Unsplash
Check More Stories
Image: zolgensma-hcp.com
ndtv.com