Alzheimer’s drug made by Eli Lilly that slows early Alzheimer’s by up to 60% hailed as the ‘turning point’ in the fight against the disease
A drug that can slow early Alzheimer’s by up to 60 percent has been hailed as the “turning point” in the fight against the disease.
In a “defining moment” for dementia research, results of trials of donanemab showed that it significantly slowed the worsening of symptoms in people with this type of dementia.
It is the second treatment after lecanemab to offer hope to patients in what experts have hailed as ‘the decade of Alzheimer’s’, where it could one day be compared to other long-term conditions such as asthma or diabetes.
Scientists said it also ended the decades-long debate over whether the buildup of sticky plaques, or amyloid, is at least partially responsible for the degenerative disease.
Donanemab is given once a month to Alzheimer’s patients by intravenous infusion. The monoclonal antibody — a man-made version of proteins produced by the body to fight harmful substances — travels to the brain. Once in the organ, donanemab binds to toxic accumulations of amyloid plaque – a hallmark sign of the memory-robbing disease. This prompts immune cells known as microglia to clear them
Researchers revealed today that donanemab slows cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease by 35 percent by clearing toxic plaques in the brain
Donanemab halted mental decline for more than a year in about half of patients, according to findings presented this afternoon at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam.
Created by Eli Lilly and Company, the US pharmaceutical company announced that it had already applied for FDA approval and is expected to be applied in the UK within six months.
It means patients can be treated with the drug within 18 months.
The drug, given as a monthly infusion, was found to be most effective in people under the age of 75 in the earliest stages of the disease.
Researchers examined nearly 1,800 people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, with patients given either donanemab or a dummy drug for 18 months.
Those in the earliest stage of the disease with mild cognitive impairment had the greatest benefit, with a 60 percent delay in decline compared to placebo.
In early Alzheimer’s patients whose brain scans showed low or average levels of a protein called tau, the drug was found to slow clinical decline by 35 percent.
When the results were combined for people with different levels of this protein, there was a 22.3 percent slowdown in disease progression, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Richard Oakley, deputy director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘This really is a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer’s and the science is proving that it is possible to slow the disease down.
‘Treatments like donanemab are the first steps towards a future where Alzheimer’s disease can be viewed as a long-term condition alongside diabetes or asthma – people may have to live with it, but they can receive treatments that allow them to effectively manage their symptoms and carry on to live a fulfilled life.”
The drug works by using the immune system to clear amyloid — toxic plaque buildup in the brain that stops brain cells from communicating.
In addition to slowing the worsening of symptoms by an average of 4.5 to 7.5 months, the drug also meant patients could continue their daily activities for longer, researchers said.
However, there were some serious side effects, such as brain swelling and bleeding in some patients, as well as three deaths from taking the medication.
Experts said patients should be aware of the risks of the treatment so they can choose whether to take these drugs or not.
Dr. Susan Kohlhaas, from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said today’s announcement “marks another milestone” after decades of research.
She said: ‘We are entering a new era where Alzheimer’s disease may become treatable.
‘As a first-generation potential treatment, the effects of donanemab are modest. But these results further confirm that removing amyloid from the brain can change the course of Alzheimer’s disease and help people affected by this devastating disease if treated at the right time.
‘On the other hand, it is clear that donanemab is associated with side effects, which can be very serious for some. Regulators will have to weigh these benefits and risks before licensing it for use.”