Drug guidance
Nusinersen and risdiplam for treating spinal muscular atrophy
Condition
Musculoskeletal
1 July 2026
Published on 04 Jun 2024
Last Updated on 01 Jul 2026
Guidance Recommendations
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
Risdiplam 0.75 mg/mL powder for oral solution and 5 mg tablet for treating:
Symptomatic Type 1, 2 or 3 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in patients who are/were 18 years of age or under at the time of initial treatment with risdiplam or nusinersen;
Symptomatic Type 1, 2 or 3 SMA in patients aged 19 years or above who had not initiated treatment with risdiplam or nusinersen prior to 19 years of age despite onset of signs/symptoms of SMA;
Pre-symptomatic SMA in patients who are/were under 3 years of age at the time of initial treatment with risdiplam or nusinersen; and
SMA in patients who have experienced a regression in a developmental state despite treatment with gene therapy.
Funding status
Risdiplam 0.75 mg/mL powder for oral solution and 5 mg tablet are recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for the abovementioned indications from 1 August 2024 and 1 September 2026, respectively.
Risdiplam should be used in line with the additional clinical criteria listed in the Annex.
MAF assistance does not apply to nusinersen for treating SMA.