Very important breaking news today that the Health Service Executive has approved the use of the drug Spinraza to treat children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Parents, including those in Galway East, have waged a very long campaign to get this vital drug approved.
International tests have shown that Spinraza slows the effects of spinal muscular atrophy and I am extremely happy that the HSE has made this decision.
Parents and children with SMA held a march at Leinster House in support of the campaign at the end of February.
At the end of the march, they handed in a petition with more than 100,000 signatures to get the drug approved.
Spinraza is the only drug available on the market to treat SMA, which is a rare muscle-wasting disease.