Senate passes bill requiring spinal muscular atrophy screenings for newborns in New Jersey

Spine

The Senate passed legislation Dec. 16 requiring newborn infants to have spinal muscular atrophy screenings in New Jersey, according to Insider NJ.

Four things to know:

1. The bill would require infants born in the state to be tested for genetic markers linked with SMA.

2. SMA is a rare genetic disease that leads to progressive muscle weakness and, in some cases, paralysis.

3. The FDA approved AveXis' $2.1 million gene therapy drug Zolgensma for SMA in May, which The Washington Post reported to be the most expensive drug in the world.

4. The Senate returned a unanimous vote of 36-0 on the bill.

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