If you’re looking at treatment options for spinal muscular atrophy, you may want to learn more about Spinraza (nusinersen). It’s a prescription drug used to treat spinal muscular atrophy in adults and children. It comes as a liquid solution that you receive as an injection in your spine.

Keep reading for details on Spinraza and cost, and how you may be able to save money on your treatments.

Note: For more details on Spinraza, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for Spinraza injections can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan and your insurance coverage (if you have it). It will also depend on how much you have to pay for a visit to a treatment center where you’ll receive Spinraza injections.

To learn how much you’ll pay for Spinraza, including what your cost per dose or annual cost may be, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Spinraza. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Spinraza in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Spinraza requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost for it.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Spinraza requires prior authorization.

Spinraza only comes as a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you need help covering the cost of Spinraza or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you still have questions about the cost of Spinraza, talk with your doctor. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Spinraza.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

  • What are my options if I can’t afford the cost of Spinraza treatments?
  • Will the number of treatments I need determine my cost?
  • Are lower-cost treatments available for my condition?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.