Slovenia approves innovative drug givinostat for children with DMD

Children in Slovenia with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) can now be treated with the innovative drug givinostat, following its addition to the national health insurance fund's positive list of medications. The Slovenian Health Insurance Institute (ZZZS) approved the drug at the end of May. Givinostat is indicated for ambulatory patients aged 6 and older with DMD, based on the recommendation of the Commission for Medicines and the Pediatric Clinic's neurology department at UKC Ljubljana. This decision marks a significant step forward for patients and their families in Slovenia. DMD is a rare, inherited, and incurable disease characterized by progressive muscle weakening. While givinostat does not cure the disease, it can significantly slow its progression, especially when administered early to children who can still walk. Approximately 35 children and ten adults in Slovenia live with this diagnosis. Sanja Kogelnik, president of the DMD Slovenia Association and mother of a child with the condition, expressed her long-awaited relief. "This decision will change the lives of families who will now have a new opportunity," she stated. "We hope the drug will help children and families living with this difficult disease as much as possible." Professor Damjan Osredkar, head of Pediatric Neurology at the Ljubljana Pediatric Clinic, emphasized the critical timing of treatment. "We know that lost motor functions cannot be regained even with modern disease-modifying drugs," he explained. "Therefore, it is crucial that a child who is a suitable candidate for treatment receives such a drug as soon as possible." With givinostat now available alongside steroids, Slovenia offers advanced treatment options to significantly slow the disease's advancement.