The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on Friday that it is asking healthcare providers to test patients treated with Novartis’ Zolgensma for possible liver damage after reports of two deaths linked to spinal cord gene therapy. Ulcer atrophy.

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis announced last August that two patients had died of acute liver failure after taking Zolgensma, which is used to treat spinal muscular atrophy, a rare but serious genetic disease that was incurable until a treatment was developed, Reuters reported and Agerpres.

The EMA said it intended to issue a warning to doctors to immediately assess patients with worsening liver function or signs or symptoms of acute liver disease.

Novartis said it notified health authorities of the death and sent letters in August to notify health care providers, including in the United States.

In Europe, however, such letters have been the subject of discussions with the EMA, and Novartis will soon receive permission to send them to EU member states, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant added.

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