A new article about Clinical Effectiveness of Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy  - a nonrandomized controlled trial is published.

Researchers demostrated in this nonrandomized controlled trial the effectiveness of newborn screening for infants with SMA in a real-world-setting. 

For further information please look here:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38587854/

To read the full text, please click here: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2817302

On 20^th December 2023, Switzerland has approved a nationwide pilot that would screen all newborns for SMA. The pilot, which is co-funded privately, is expected to lead to SMA being added to the national panel in the 2^nd half of 2024.

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/gesetze-und-bewilligungen/gesuche-bewilligungen/gesuche-bewilligungen-bereich-genetische-untersuchungen/genetische-reihenuntersuchungen.html

Slovakia is in the process of starting routine newborn screening for SMA. The Children's University Hospital in Banská Bystrica, which is the only facility to carry out genetic screening in Slovakia, has been contracted from 1^st January 2024 to screen all newborns for two diseases: SMA and SCID, in addition to the 27 disorders that all newborns are already being screened for.

Approximately 6 children are diagnosed with SMA in Slovakia every year.

https://spravy.rtvs.sk/2024/01/skrining-dokaze-u-deti-predvidat-dalsie-dve-choroby-lekari-tak-dokazu-zasiahnut-vcas/

Newborn Screening for SMA is now available in Ireland. The Irish SMA HTA was published this week and is available in our ressources section.