PM claims side effects as reason for not supplying innovative achondroplasia drug

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday claimed his office had not ensured the provision and funding of an expensive, revolutionary achondroplasia drug for children due to its possible side effects and the lack of approval by the World Health Organisation. 

 

The comment came on the heels of ongoing protests by the parents of the children with achondroplasia, a rare genetic disease slowing the growth of bones, who have been demanding the supplying and funding of Voxzogo (vosoritide), an innovative drug in the treatment of the illness approved by the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration in 2021.

 

The parents, who are now protesting at the Government office, are demanding the drug “as soon as possible”, claiming it is not ineffective in adults over 14. 

 

The PM said the “radical wing” of the domestic opposition was misleading the parents and using the issue for their political interests. 

 

He claimed as soon as European countries and the US launched the treatment with the medication, his office would get involved in the programme, claiming the funds were not “critical” for the budget. 

 

There are about 30 children suffering from the disease in Georgia, with the health minister saying last week the cost of the annual dose for each patient hit $200,000.