Spinal muscular atrophy

The PBS subsidises nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec, and risdiplam for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Patient eligibility

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises treatment with nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec and risdiplam under the National Health Act 1953, section 100 for patients with SMA.

Where the term disease modifying therapy appears it refers to nusinersen and risdiplam. Where the term gene therapy appears it refers to onasemnogene abeparvovec.

Nusinersen and risdiplam are PBS-subsidised for both symptomatic and pre-symptomatic SMA.

Onasemnogene abeparvovec is PBS-subsidised gene therapy for both symptomatic Type 1 SMA and pre-symptomatic SMA for patients no older than 9 months of age. Treatment with onasemnogene abeparvovec is once only in a lifetime.

Patients must be eligible for the PBS and meet the relevant restriction criteria.

The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits on the PBS website outlines the restrictions for prescribing nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec and risdiplam.

Section 100 arrangements

Nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec, and risdiplam

These items are only PBS-subsidised for non-admitted patients, day admitted patients, or patients on discharge who are attending:

  • an approved private hospital (nusinersen and risdiplam only)
  • a public hospital.

These items aren’t PBS-subsidised for public hospital in-patients. You must include the hospital name and provider number on the authority application form.

Treatment specifics

Nusinersen for patients aged 18 years or under

To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with nusinersen for initial treatment, patients must be treated by, or in consultation with, a specialist medical practitioner who is both:

  • experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA
  • associated with a neuromuscular clinic of a recognised hospital in the management of SMA.

For continuing treatment, patients must either be treated by, or have their treatment initiated by, or in consultation with, a specialist medical practitioner who is both:

  • experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA
  • associated with a neuromuscular clinic of a recognised hospital in the management of SMA.

Hospitals recognised for managing SMA are:

  • Queensland Children’s Hospital - Brisbane
  • Royal Children’s Hospital - Melbourne
  • Monash Children’s Hospital - Melbourne
  • John Hunter Hospital - Newcastle
  • Sydney Children’s Hospital - Randwick
  • Children’s Hospital at Westmead
  • Adelaide Women and Children’s Hospital
  • Perth Children’s Hospital.

Nusinersen for adult patients with onset of SMA prior to 19 years of age

To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with nusinersen for initial and continuing treatment, patients must be treated by either:

  • a specialist medical practitioner experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA
  • a medical practitioner directed to prescribe this benefit by a specialist medical practitioner experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA.

Onasemnogene abeparvovec

To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with onasemnogene abeparvovec, patients must be treated by, or in consultation with, a specialist medical practitioner who is both:

  • experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA
  • associated with a neuromuscular clinic of a recognised hospital in the management of SMA.

Hospitals recognised for managing SMA are:

  • Queensland Children’s Hospital - Brisbane
  • Royal Children’s Hospital - Melbourne
  • Monash Children’s Hospital - Melbourne
  • John Hunter Hospital - Newcastle
  • Sydney Children’s Hospital - Randwick
  • Children’s Hospital at Westmead
  • Adelaide Women and Children’s Hospital
  • Perth Children’s Hospital.

Patients must be treated in a treatment centre that is each of the following:

  • recognised in the management of SMA
  • accredited in the use of this gene technology by the relevant authority
  • has sourced or will source this product from an accredited supplier.

Accredited treatment centres and suppliers are those organisations accredited by the Gene Technology Regulator under section 92 of the Gene Technology Act 2000. The list of accredited organisations is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website. These may be updated without notice.

Risdiplam for patients aged 18 years or under

To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with risdiplam for symptomatic Type I/II/IIIa SMA, patients must be treated by, or in consultation with, a specialist medical practitioner who is both:

  • experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA
  • associated with a neuromuscular clinic.

To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with risdiplam for pre-symptomatic SMA or symptomatic Type IIIB/IIIC SMA, patients must be treated by either:

  • a specialist medical practitioner experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA
  • a medical practitioner directed to prescribe this benefit by a specialist medical practitioner experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA.

Hospitals recognised for managing SMA are:

  • Queensland Children’s Hospital - Brisbane
  • Royal Children’s Hospital - Melbourne
  • Monash Children’s Hospital - Melbourne
  • John Hunter Hospital - Newcastle
  • Sydney Children’s Hospital - Randwick
  • Children’s Hospital at Westmead
  • Adelaide Women and Children’s Hospital
  • Perth Children’s Hospital.

Risdiplam for adult patients with onset of SMA prior to 19 years of age

To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with risdiplam for initial and continuing treatment, patients must be treated by either:

  • a specialist medical practitioner experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA
  • a medical practitioner directed to prescribe this benefit by a specialist medical practitioner experienced in the diagnosis and management of SMA.

Authority applications

Disease modifying therapy

Patients 18 years of age or under

Applying for initial treatment

Please note: You don’t need to complete this application in writing when you request PBS authority online.

Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised nusinersen or risdiplam to treat SMA can be made:

All written applications must include:

Applying for continuing or change of treatment

Applications to continue or change authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised nusinersen or risdiplam to treat SMA can be made either:

For risdiplam applications, you must request the quantity of the drug and number of repeats in accordance with the recommended dosing in the approved Product Information. The quantity can’t exceed 3 units.

Patients 19 years of age or over

Applying for initial treatment

Please note: You don’t need to complete this application in writing when you request PBS authority online.

Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised nusinersen or risdiplam for adult patients who didn’t initiate PBS subsidy during childhood to treat SMA can be made:

All written applications must include:

Applying for continuing or change of treatment

Applications to continue or change authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised nusinersen or risdiplam to treat SMA can be made either:

Gene therapy

Please note: You don’t need to complete this application in writing when you request PBS authority online.

Applications for authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised onasemnogene abeparvovec to treat SMA can be made:

All written applications must include:

You must state the patient’s weight in kilograms and request the appropriate product pack presentation with respect to the mix of 5.5 mL and 8.3 mL vials.

More information

Call the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line for more information.

Page last updated: 1 January 2025.
QC 44141