Diverging Safety Signals: A Trend Analysis of Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Therapies in the European Union.

Background/

Objectives

The approval of disease-modifying therapies has significantly improved outcomes for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), yet their long-term safety profiles remain under continuous evaluation. This study aimed to assess trends in the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec, and risdiplam across the European Union.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of annual suspected ADR data reported to EudraVigilance from 2017 to 2024 for the three approved disease-modifying therapies for SMA. On top of general reporting trend, specific adverse reactions of interest included post-lumbar puncture syndrome for nusinersen, liver toxicity and elevated serum troponin for onasemnogene abeparvovec, and respiratory and gastrointestinal reactions for risdiplam. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to evaluate annual percent changes and identify statistically significant trend segments for each medicine.

Results

The reporting of suspected ADRs for nusinersen showed an initial increase, followed by a significant decline after 2019. Onasemnogene abeparvovec exhibited a continued but decelerating increase in suspected ADRs, while risdiplam demonstrated a consistent upward trend across all reported reactions.

Conclusions

Diverging patterns in adverse reaction reporting suggest a stabilizing safety profile for nusinersen and potential emerging safety signals for risdiplam and onasemnogene abeparvovec, underscoring the need for ongoing continued pharmacovigilance (e.g., post-authorization studies and spontaneous reporting).