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Newborns Get Life-Saving SMA Test Sooner
1 Apr
Summary
- England will screen 400,000 babies for SMA starting October 2026.
- New treatments offer a cure for SMA if administered at birth.
- Scotland screens all newborns, while Wales and NI do not yet.
In a significant advancement for infant health, England will begin screening approximately 404,000 newborns for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) starting in October 2026. This accelerated timeline, moved up from January 2027, is a victory for campaigners, including former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, who have highlighted the devastating impact of late diagnoses.
New treatments are now available on the NHS that can act as a cure for SMA, provided they are administered at birth. These therapies, including Spinraza, Evrysdi, and Zolgensma, halt the disease's progression by ensuring adequate SMN protein production, which is vital for motor neuron health. However, without early screening, treatments are often given too late to reverse existing nerve damage.
While Scotland has committed to screening all its newborns for SMA, the situation in Wales and Northern Ireland remains unchanged, with no plans for universal screening. The UK's approach lags behind many other countries, including 65% of EU nations, which have already integrated SMA testing into their newborn screening programs.
The UK National Screening Committee's previous decisions against adding SMA to the newborn screening program have been re-evaluated. An ongoing evaluation aims to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of newborn SMA screening within the NHS, providing evidence to support a national rollout.
