Fri Apr 11 21:31:00 UTC 2025: **Hope for SMA Patients as Generic Risdiplam Offers 97% Price Drop**
**New Delhi, April 12, 2025** – A potential breakthrough in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been announced, with Indian generic manufacturer Natco Pharma poised to launch a generic version of Risdiplam at a fraction of the current cost. The generic drug, priced at approximately $183.47 per bottle, represents a staggering 97% reduction from the current $7,150 price tag of the brand-name drug, Evrysdi, manufactured by Roche.
This development has been met with enthusiastic approval from healthcare activists and SMA patients alike. K.M. Gopakumar, a legal researcher specializing in access to medicines, urges government intervention to further reduce costs, suggesting procurement of the generic drug and potentially invoking Section 100 of the Patents Act to facilitate wider manufacturing and distribution.
Saifullah Khalidi, an SMA patient representative, highlights the transformative potential of affordable Risdiplam. Currently, the high cost of treatment limits access for many, impacting their quality of life and lifespan. He welcomes the prospect of multiple companies producing the generic version, making it accessible to all SMA patients.
The news comes after the Delhi High Court rejected Roche’s attempt to block Natco’s generic version. While the exact launch date remains unclear, the potential for affordable treatment provides much-needed hope for individuals like Sarmista, an Assamese writer living with SMA, who previously relied on crowdfunding to afford the medication. The high cost of treatment continues to challenge many SMA patients and their families.
SMA, a genetic disorder causing muscle weakness and atrophy, currently lacks a cure. Risdiplam offers significant improvements to quality of life for those affected, making the possibility of an affordable generic version a landmark development in the fight against this debilitating disease.
First Piper 