Six-year-old Beau Cosgrove, of Taralga is one of 20 children across Australia who will receive free life-saving treatment for their rare medical condition.
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Beau is living with Morquio A Syndrome. It’s a condition he has had since birth, and the only available treatment, Vimizim (elosulfase alfa), costs about $400,000 a year.
On Friday Federal Hume MP Angus Taylor confirmed the government would make Vimizim available under the Life Saving Drugs Program from August 1, this year.
“It’s an awful disease that cruelly affects children like Beau,” Mr Taylor said. “I know having access to Vimizim will be life-changing for Beau and his parents Joe and Sam, his younger twin brothers Zac and Ty, and younger sister Kathryn.”
Morquio A Syndrome, or mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type IV A is an inherited metabolic condition.
Vimizim is the first and only available enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for patients with Morquio A.
While Beau will never be cured, ERT provides people living with Morquio hope for the future.