The UAE has taken a major step in precision medicine by approving Itvisma, a breakthrough gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare and often fatal genetic disorder. With this decision, the UAE becomes only the second country after the United States to authorise the treatment. Dubai’s Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital will be among the first centres outside America to offer the therapy, marking a milestone for advanced healthcare in the region.
The approval was granted by the Emirates Drug Establishment in coordination with leading genetic specialists. SMA treatment costs can reach up to $2 million per patient, and untreated infants may die within months. The move positions the UAE as a regional hub for rare-disease care and innovation.
