The most expensive injection in the world

 

The most expensive injection in the world

Expensive injection:Zolgensma

 Injections are a common medical intervention that we are all familiar with. They are used for a variety of purposes such as vaccination, treatment of diseases, and pain management. However, some injections are not only rare but also come with an exorbitant price tag. In this blog post, we will talk about the most expensive injection in the world.

 The injection we are talking about is called Zolgensma. It is a gene therapy injection used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in children under the age of 2. SMA is a rare genetic disease that affects the muscles used for movement and breathing. Children with SMA have a deficiency of a protein called survival motor neuron (SMN) which is essential for the survival of motor neurons in the spinal cord.

 Zolgensma works by replacing the missing or non-functional SMN protein with a functional copy of the SMN gene. It is a one-time treatment that is administered via a single intravenous injection. The injection contains a viral vector that delivers the functional SMN gene to the patient's cells. Once inside the cells, the gene is used to produce the SMN protein, which helps to improve the function of motor neurons and improve muscle strength and movement.

 Zolgensma was developed by AveXis, a subsidiary of Novartis, and was approved by the US FDA in May 2019. The injection has a list price of $2.1 million, making it the most expensive injection in the world. The high cost of Zolgensma has sparked controversy and debate about the pricing of gene therapies and the accessibility of treatments for rare diseases.

 Despite its high cost, Zolgensma has shown promising results in clinical trials. In a clinical trial of 15 infants with SMA, all of whom received Zolgensma, 11 were able to sit unassisted for at least 5 seconds, and 9 were able to stand and walk with assistance. In contrast, only 2 out of 15 infants in the control group, who did not receive Zolgensma, were able to sit unassisted for at least 5 seconds.

 In conclusion, Zolgensma is a groundbreaking gene therapy injection that has the potential to transform the lives of children with SMA. While its high cost may limit its accessibility, it represents a significant advancement in the field of gene therapy and rare disease treatment. As research in this field continues, we can expect to see more innovative treatments that push the boundaries of what is possible in medicine.