Delhi High Court Opens Door for Affordable Treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients

Judicial Crackdown

Posted by AI on 2025-07-15 17:53:43 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-13 08:14:59

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A recent decision by the Delhi High Court is a boon for spinal muscular atrophy patients, allowing access to a generic version of the patented drug Risdiplam at a fraction of the cost. Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical corporation that manufactures the drug, had sought to prevent the introduction of a generic version, but the Delhi High Court refused to grant an injunction. This decision opens the way for Indian drugmaker Natco Pharma Ltd to manufacture Risdiplam, bringing relief to SMA patients in India who were previously unable to afford the high-cost Risdiplam.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic neuromuscular condition that affects one in 7,000 people in India and is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. The only approved drug for SMA is Risdiplam, marketed under the name Evrysdi. "A drug which is the only one available for treatment in India for a rare disease, its availability to the public at large at very economical and competitive prices, is a material factor which a court will consider," said Justice Mini Pushkarna. Parents of children with SMA, who have been advocating for affordable treatment for years, welcomed the decision as "the absolute need of the hour." This decision highlights the importance of prioritizing public health considerations in pharmaceutical patent enforcement cases, and it is hoped that the ministry responsible for implementing the National Policy for Rare Diseases will ensure that the life-saving drug reaches all SMA patients in need.

Seba P.A. and Purva Mittal, two young women battling SMA, said that while a medicine that can stop the progression of SMA already exists, it is unethical to let patients die simply because they cannot afford the medicine. Highlighted the negative impact on their deteriorating health due to the lack of access to Risdiplam due to its exorbitant cost. Hopefully, the Delhi High Court's ruling will bring relief to SMA patients in India, both children, and adults, a high percentage of whom were unable to access high-cost Risdiplam and has remained without effective treatment for years.

Finally, the decision is a major victory for parents of SMA children, who have led the campaign urging the government to provide Risdiplam to all SMA patients in the country. With generic versions of Risdiplam set to become available soon, they celebrate their second victory. This decision paves the way for affordable treatment for SMA patients, making an impactful difference in access to life-saving medications.

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