Kennedy approves adding two rare disorders to newborn screenings

Dec 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday added two rare genetic disorders, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, to the federal newborn screening list to enable early treatment, the Department of Health and Human Services said.

The decision updates the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP), which guides state-level newborn screening programs, following a scientific review and public comment process.

Early detection of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) will allow children to receive FDA-approved therapies at the most effective time, helping slow disease progression and preserve quality of life, the HHS said.

DMD, a rare genetic disorder, causes muscle degeneration, while MLD affects the brain and nervous system, which leads to loss of motor and cognitive function and early death.

Most children with DMD or MLD are diagnosed at age four or five, when significant muscle loss or neurological decline has already occurred, the HHS said.

The agency said that screening at birth could reduce years-long diagnostic delays, repeated specialist visits, and the financial and emotional strain often associated with rare diseases.