The Clalit health fund approved, Wednesday, funding for use of the drug Zolgensma - the world's most expensive drug - for Liam and Jude, two Israeli infants diagnosed with the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy, according to Yisrael Hayom.
The approval was granted after doctors at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv determined that the two babies were most eligible for the new drug, which was approved in June by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a breakthrough drug for the serious genetic disease. Senior health officials say the special approval was given after a special payment arrangement was agreed with the TrueMed which represents American subsidiary Avexis of Swiss drug giant Novarts, which would give the largest discount on the drug's 7.6-million-shekel ($2.125 million) price and that the payment for the single-time administration of the drug would be spread over several years (between 4-6 annual payments).