Novartis celebrates Canada-wide implementation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. (Novartis) applauds the work done by Muscular Dystrophy Canada and the provinces to ensure that every newborn in Canada will be screened to detect spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). All provinces and territories have implemented newborn screening programs for SMA. With these programs in place, a blood test routinely done shortly after birth will be able to detect SMA before symptoms appear.

This is a significant advancement for this rare, often debilitating genetic disease, which for some babies can be life-threatening. Novartis has contributed to this shift in policy across the country through a multi-year multi-phase collaboration with Muscular Dystrophy Canada

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