THE FAMILY of a seriously ill Romsey boy will find out in the coming days whether he will get access to a breakthrough drug.

Jagger Curtis’s mum and dad will hear on Monday whether medical chiefs will approve funding for a treatment which could help him live longer.

The Romsey Abbey Primary School pupil suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy which means he is unlikely to live beyond his 20s and is not expected to be able to walk when he is in his teens.

For the past year the avid Saints fan and his family have been campaigning for him to get access to Translarna, an expensive treatment which could slow down the symptoms of the condition.

On Monday morning the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is expected to make a decision.

If so, it would be the first time a drug tackling an underlying cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been available through NHS England.

Jagger’s dad, James, said he would be having “sleepless nights” over the weekend as they await an announcement.

“Hopefully it’s good news. This is probably the last chance. Fingers crossed it will be good. But it’s not there until it’s there,” he said.

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Last year families from across England had to wait months after NHS England waiting for further evidence from NICE before deciding whether to fund a drug trial.

Despite pleas from Jagger to Prime Minister David Cameron, he eventually found out the drug trials wouldn’t be funded.

But in February NICE said they were reviewing a Managed Access Agreement (MAA) allowing the £200,000 drug to be available on the NHS for five years, if the patient meets certain criteria, which Jagger does.

In 2014, Translarna became the first genetic therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy to be approved within the EU. It has been available in several European countries for more than a year.

Monday’s announcement will come just a week after the Scottish Medicines Consortium said it wouldn’t fund the drug.

A spokesman for charity Muscular Dystrophy UK said the drug could “transform” children’s lives.

They said: “Parents have endured an 18-month-wait, with repeated delays and setbacks, for news on access to Translarna, which could allow eligible children to keep walking for longer.

“Most with the condition become entirely reliant on a wheelchair before they reach the age of 12. There are thought to be 50 children in England who could be helped.”

Despite the agony of his parents in waiting for good news, James said that Jagger was doing ok.

“He’s not doing too bad. He still carries on, he’s always happy, he’s doing fine, he keeps on going. If it is good news, it couldn’t come at a better time,” James said.