New Alzheimer’s drug hailed as ‘beginning of the end’ in search for treatment

expertsAfter a new drug that reduced memory decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, they hail the “beginning the end” in their search for effective treatments.

Lecanemab is a drug that targets and removes amyloid, a protein that builds up in the brains and brains of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It has been shown to slow down the decline in memory and thinking.

Eisai, a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical firm that has partnered US biotechnology company, has reported the results of a phase III clinical study. BiogenFor the development of likanimab.

In September, Eisai released preliminary results from a trial that involved 1,795 participants with Alzheimer’s disease.

ScientistsIt was found that the drug reduced disease progression by 27% after 18 months compared to patients who were given a placebo.

The complete study results have been published in New England Journal of Medicine. Experts hail them as long-awaited proof that Alzheimer’s can and can be treated.

Professor John Hardy, group leader of the UK’s Dementia Research Institute, University College London, stated that “this trial is an important first stage, and I really believe it marks the beginning the end.”

“The amyloid theory has been around for 30 years, so that’s been a long time. It’s great to receive this confirmation that we’ve been on the right track all along, and these findings convincingly demonstrate, for the first time, the link between removing amyloid and slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”

“The first step is the hardest, and we now know exactly what we need to do to develop effective drugs. It is exciting to think that future work will build on this, and we will soon have life-changing therapies to tackle this disease.”

Professor Bart de Strober, director of the institute, added: “The overall conclusion is very positive. This trial shows that Alzheimer’s can be cured.

Professor Nick Fox, Director of the Center for Dementia Research said that “It underscores a new age of disease modification for Alzheimer’s disease.”

“An era that comes after more than 20 years of hard work on anti-amyloid immunotherapies — by many people — and many disappointments along the way.”

Dr. Richard Oakley is the associate director of research on Alzheimer’s Disease. CommunityHe said that the results were potentially “game-changing”.

He said that they gave him hope that people with early-onset Alzheimer’s will be able to spend more time with their loved ones in the future.

Experts warn that the UK has more work to do in order to prepare for the delivery of this drug, assuming it is approved by regulatory authorities.

There are two methods to determine if there is amyloid present in the brain. One is a brain scan and one is a biomarker testing that is currently being done by lumbar puncture.

While blood testing is possible, dementia services will still need to rely on existing tests. These tests are costly and can have long waiting lists.

Experts say that while private patients and those who live close to large dementia services have access to these diagnostics, the vast majority of the population cannot.

They warned that lecanemab treatment may not be available to people who are currently on the waiting list. This is because it can only be administered to mildly ill patients. If their disease progresses while they wait, it will not be granted. Patients are no longer eligible to receive treatment.

Professor de Strober stated that all the participants in the trial had early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. This raises the question of how can we ensure that people have access to the right medicines at the right time.

“In parallel, it is important to make early diagnosis more easy and accessible so that treatments can take place when they are most likely and effective before amyloid levels rise and cause brain damage.”

Experts also noted that further research is needed to examine side effects of the drug.

Prof Hardy said that there was a risk for side effects, including brain haemorrhage, in a small percentage of cases.

“This does NOT mean that the drug cannot not be given. However, it is vital that people receiving licanimab be monitored closely and further trials are performed to better understand and mitigate the risk.