Abu Dhabi has marked a global milestone by becoming the first city to deliver ITVISMA (onasemnogene abeparvovec), a one-time gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This achievement reinforces the emirate’s position as a leading healthcare destination and demonstrates its commitment to patient care through genomics and precision medicine.
The therapy was successfully administered at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), part of SEHA and a subsidiary of PureHealth, under the supervision of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the emirate’s healthcare regulator. ITVISMA, developed by Novartis, is designed to target the underlying genetic cause of SMA in patients aged two years and older with a confirmed SMN1 gene mutation.
ITVISMA received accelerated approval in the UAE on November 25, 2025, positioning the country among the first globally, after the United States, to endorse this pioneering treatment. The therapy replaces the missing SMN1 gene, improving motor function and reducing the need for ongoing treatments required by other therapies.
The administration of ITVISMA highlights Abu Dhabi’s integrated healthcare ecosystem, strategic collaborations, and commitment to providing advanced and innovative care. This milestone underscores the emirate’s focus on ensuring access to cutting-edge therapies for rare diseases and supporting its role as a leading destination for medical treatment.
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