CNN: Gene therapy gets FDA approval — and a $2 million price tag

Gene therapy has been an ongoing controversial topic, but the US Food and Drug Administration has approved this treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disease that causes infants’ muscles to shrink and waste away. The price for a one-time treatment is $2.125 million, which immediately reignited the controversy around the cost of live-saving drugs and treatments. Though the company that will perform this operation say that they will have patient support and payment programs in place to help with the hefty price tag, they are essentially asking one question: “Are you willing to pay to save your child’s life?” To read more about the controversy involved in gene therapy, click here.