According to those in charge of the drug industry, the Iranian version will be put on the market at a price not exceeding 2% of the global price, which will facilitate patients’ access to it and save the country approximately $55 million annually in hard currency.

Zahra Qasimi, a research and development expert at the producing company, said that the manufacture of this drug represents the first local production for the treatment of nerve and muscle atrophy, explaining that the company obtained “Danishbanian” status in 2024 after developing this strategic product. She described the disease as a genetic disorder that causes gradual deterioration of nerves and muscles and may lead to severe weakness or paralysis.

Qasimi pointed out that her company has become the second company in the world – after a Swiss company – to succeed in producing this medicine, stressing that there is a big difference in prices. The imported package is sold for about 7,900 pounds, while the patient needs 2.5 to 3 packages per month depending on age and dose. On the other hand, the price of the local package does not exceed about 20 million tomans, with a large portion of it covered by health insurance.

The researcher explains that the drug stimulates the body to produce the protein that SMA patients lack, which is responsible for… Nerve functions And muscles. Although the original version was designed to stop the progression of the disease, local trials showed motor improvement in Iranian patients.

Qasimi gave the example of a child who was suffering from complete paralysis before the start of treatment, and after a period of using the medication he was able to sit and move to a better degree, considering this as evidence of its ability to stop the deterioration of the condition and improve motor performance.

She stressed that early diagnosis during the first days after birth doubles the effectiveness of treatment, as it may prevent symptoms in the future and significantly improve the child’s quality of life.

Regarding the availability of the drug locally, Ghasemi explained that it entered the commercial production stage in 2024, and that about 1,500 people with SMA in Iran are currently receiving treatment through this product, whose monthly needs the company provides with doses ranging between 2.5 and 3 packages for each patient.

She added that the availability of the drug within the country is a decisive advantage, as its global price exceeds one billion tomans per package, which makes obtaining the imported version very difficult, while local production allows low-cost treatment with similar quality, according to the Food and Drug Administration’s evaluation.

She also pointed out the great export potential of the drug, noting that Türkiye alone imported 150 million euros worth of the Iranian product last year. It believes that entering the global market will contribute to enhancing national revenues and providing financial savings that may reach $55 million annually.

Qasimi concluded by emphasizing that the mechanism of the drug is based on re-stimulating the production of the vital protein responsible for maintaining Nerve functions And muscles, which stops the decline in motor abilities in SMA patients and helps significantly improve their performance.