A decade of progress: from zero to ten treatments for muscle wasting conditions

27 May 2026

After the approval of four treatments in the last month, we’ve reached a remarkable milestone – ten treatments specifically developed for muscle wasting conditions are now available on the NHS.

For many people living with a muscle wasting condition, being told “there are no treatments” has long been the reality. But that picture is beginning to change.

There are now treatments available for five conditions. That can mean slowing progression, maintaining independence, or improving day-to-day quality of life. And for some conditions, there is even a choice of treatments. Just ten years ago, this would have felt unimaginable.

A milestone for the whole community

While there aren’t treatments for every condition yet, this milestone reflects progress that we hope will lead to more in the future.

Each approval helps us learn more about what it takes to get treatments to people. We are seeing where delays happen, what evidence is needed, and how decisions are made. That gives us more opportunity to challenge the system and push for change in the future, so that treatments can be approved quicker and fairer.

It also sends a clear message to pharmaceutical companies and researchers that muscle wasting conditions cannot be overlooked. As more treatments are developed and approved, it shows that progress is possible, helping to encourage further investment across a wider range of conditions.

Recent approvals: a month of major progress

In the last month alone, four potentially life-changing treatments for three different conditions have been approved for use on the NHS:

• Rozanolixizumab – the first treatment designed specifically for myasthenia gravis to be approved for NHS use in England. Access in Wales and Northern Ireland is expected to follow, while a decision in Scotland is still to come.
• Givinostat – a treatment that slows the progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), now approved for use across the whole of the UK.
• Nusinersen and risdiplam – after years of uncertain and limited access, both treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), are now permanently available on the NHS across the UK.

You can find the full list of all ten treatments currently available on the NHS and those we are still pushing for access here.

Thank you to our community

Reaching this milestone has only been possible because of the whole community.

From fundraising efforts like marathons and bake sales, and volunteers giving their time, to people sharing their stories, taking part in research, and speaking up about their experiences, every contribution has helped drive this progress forward.

This progress belongs to everyone affected by muscle wasting conditions.

And we won’t stop here

While we’re celebrating today, we know there is still much more to do.

Everyone living with a muscle wasting condition deserves access to effective treatments – no matter their diagnosis, and no matter where they live.

As science continues to advance, we will keep funding the most promising and cutting-edge research. And we will keep pushing the system to ensure that when new treatments are found, they are made available quickly, fairly, and to everyone who needs them.