Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Drug Givinostat to Arrive in Tbilisi Early Next Week

The medication Givinostat is expected to arrive in Tbilisi at the beginning of next week.

Georgia’s Minister of Health announced the news during a briefing held at the ministry together with parents of children living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

According to the minister, intensive preparatory work has already been completed. Patient data have been collected, a registry has been established, and Georgian doctors have received training from international specialists. Everything is now ready for the medication to be introduced into clinical practice as soon as possible.

On behalf of the parents, the minister thanked the pharmaceutical manufacturer Italfarmaco for its effective cooperation. Mikheil Sarjveladze added that a number of international events dedicated to treatments for rare diseases will be held in the future, where Georgia will highlight this successful collaboration.

The ministry announced that an agreement to purchase Givinostat had been signed on 31 July. At the time, officials said children were expected to begin receiving the medication in September.

Givinostat is intended for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged six and older who are still able to walk.

According to the Georgian government, Georgia will be among the first countries in the world to procure the medication and include it in a state-funded disease management programme.