Novartis Reports Second Death Under Gene Therapy Trials: Reuters

Novartis AG on April 19 said an investigation is being carried out to find whether a second trial death could be related to its experimental gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy treatment, Reuters reported, citing the pharmaceutical giant.

News of the trial death comes as the company reported positive interim trial results for Zolgensma treatment earlier this week. Novartis has filed for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the gene replacement therapy last year.

Novartis officials told Reuters a 6-month-old patient recently died after receiving Zolgensma treatment in the company’s European trial, The patient had Type 1 spinal muscular ...