Child Who Died on Novartis Gene Therapy Was Past US Age Limit

One of two children who died after being treated with Novartis AG’s Zolgensma was past the US age limit for receiving the gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, suggesting the patient was at higher risk for complications.

The child was 28 months old, Novartis said Friday in an email. That’s within the indication in the country where the child was treated, but past the two-year age cutoff in the US for taking the medicine. The other baby who died was 4 months old, the Swiss drugmaker said.

The children who died were from Kazakhstan and Russia. Both died of ...