NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Invitae today announced a partnership with Biogen to offer free genetic testing to patients suspected of having spinal muscular atrophy or who are clinically diagnosed with the neuromuscular disease.

The aim of the program, called SMA Identified, is to reduce diagnostic barriers and ease patients' access to genetic information that could help diagnose the disease or confirm a clinical diagnosis. SMA results in a degeneration of spinal cord neurons, atrophy of the skeletal muscles, and weakness in the limbs.