Donanemab, a breakthrough medicine, has emerged as a crucial milestone in the fight against persistent forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s disease, following a global trial that validated its potential to reduce cognitive loss. Eli Lilly, a US pharmaceutical company, presented the full results of its phase 3 clinical research of Donanemab on Monday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam. The data showed that the antibody treatment delayed disease progression by roughly 35% in the early stages.
A harmful protein accumulates in the brain of a person suffering from dementia. The aforementioned drug is said to help in the early stages of the condition by removing this specific protein. The Donanemab trial included 1,736 people aged 73 on average. The trial participants had mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, and half received intravenous infusions of the medication and the other half a placebo every four weeks for 18 months. According to reports, Eli Lilly’s medicine halted the progression of the disease, most effectively in its early stages.
So, is it a dementia cure?
Not quite. While the medicine is not a cure, several humanitarian organizations believe the findings published in the journal JAMA herald a new era in Alzheimer’s treatment. The medication is only effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease and not in treating other types of dementia, such as vascular dementia.
What happens next for Donanemab?
The medicine is currently being evaluated for prospective use in the National Health Service (NHS) by the United Kingdom’s drug regulatory agency. Donanemab demonstrated a roughly one-third reduction in disease progression during the studies.
Donanemab is manufactured by Indianapolis-headquartered Eli Lilly
Donanemab is manufactured by Indianapolis-headquartered Eli Lilly, which also operates lecanemab, a medicine created by Eisai and Biogen that has earned international recognition for its demonstrated ability to halt the disease. While these treatments have a lot of potential, it’s crucial to remember that they’re not without hazards.
Donanemab breakthrough: Potential risks
Brain swelling surfaced as a common side effect in the Donanemab trial, affecting up to one-third of patients. However, for the vast majority of people, this problem resolved itself without generating any symptoms.
