The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lecanemab, an experimental drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, on Friday. According to FDA Director Dr. Billy Dunn, the drug targets the underlying disease process of Alzheimer’s rather than just treating the symptoms. “Alzheimer’s disease immeasurably incapacitates the lives of those who suffer from it and has devastating effects on their loved ones. This treatment option is the latest therapy to target and affect the underlying disease process of Alzheimer’s, instead of only treating the symptoms of the disease.”
Eisai, based in Japan, and Biogen, based in the United States, collaborated to develop the drug. Lecanemab, they claim, decreases cognitive and functional decline by nearly 27% over 18 months.
The drug will be marketed as Leqembi, and treatment is projected to cost $26,500 per year in the United States.
The medicine’s clinical trials were released in November of last year. Based on the findings, some experts praised it as the “next big advance” in Alzheimer’s treatment.
“Treatments that deliver tangible benefits to those living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s and early Alzheimer’s dementia are as valuable as treatments that extend the lives of those with other terminal diseases,” said US-based Alzheimer’s Association whilst welcoming the test results.
Lecanemab: US Senate investigation chastised the FDA for authorizing another drug
Notably, the clearance procedure for Lecanemab was sped up after a US Senate investigation chastised the FDA for authorizing another Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, without adequate due diligence.
Despite test data indicating that Aduhelm could cause brain edema and hemorrhage in patients, the FDA approved it for monoclonal antibody treatment.
The FDA has the authority to expedite the approval of drugs that it feels may benefit people suffering from critical diseases.
Alzheimer’s disease affects around 6.5 million people in the United States today. The disease wreaks havoc on memory and cognitive abilities, frequently rendering the sufferer unable to conduct basic daily chores.
Although there is no cure for the disease, doctors believe certain treatment treatments and medications can help to mitigate its symptoms.
