The first Alzheimer's drug approved in the United States

Category Drugs and medications for seniors

The first Alzheimer's drug approved in the United States

While current treatments for Alzheimer's disease focus on managing symptoms, a drug aimed at slowing the progression of the disease has just been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Amid promises, effectiveness, and limitations, what does this new drug represent in the fight against Alzheimer's disease?

How does aduhelm act against Alzheimer's disease?

It is important to note that Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two physiological features in the brain: the presence of senile plaques and neurofibrillary degeneration. While some risk factors are identified, there is currently no specific known cause for these mechanisms associated with the disease. Senile plaques are primarily composed of a peptide called amyloid, which is normally present in the body but tends to aggregate and form senile plaques in the brains of individuals with the disease, continually increasing in number.

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The new drug, manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Biogen, is designed to target the abnormal accumulation of this protein, beta-amyloid. Aduhelm, or Aducanumab, named after the molecule it utilizes, belongs to the class of monoclonal antibody treatments.

This monoclonal antibody is used to combat the beta-amyloid protein responsible for various dysfunctions underlying the disease. This new treatment revives the concept of immunotherapy in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. It is administered intravenously once a month and is estimated to cost $56,000 per year per person, with the possibility of reimbursement depending on the type of health coverage each patient has.

The first Alzheimer's treatment approved since 2003

This recent FDA approval makes Aduhelm the first treatment for Alzheimer's disease approved by the U.S. agency in eighteen years. Importantly, it is the first drug to target the disease itself and cognitive decline, rather than just its symptoms or various behavioral disorders. Several factors weighed in before this authorization was granted.

However, the FDA attached a conditional approval to the treatment, indicating that it must continue to prove its efficacy. Biogen has been asked to continue its clinical trials to confirm the benefits of Aduhelm and provide additional details, such as the ideal patient profile and the most appropriate dosage.

What are the benefits and limitations of aducanumab?

While Aduhelm represents a significant development in the fight against Alzheimer's disease, its recent approval for the U.S. market has not yet garnered unanimous support among experts. The lack of proven effectiveness has been a point of contention. The FDA justified its approval by citing the "urgent need for treatment" and the clear willingness of patients to accept a certain level of uncertainty in using a treatment that could potentially "have significant effects." Various scientific opinions on the use of this medication have emerged. While there is no doubt that this authorization marks a significant step in Alzheimer's disease research, enthusiasm must be tempered. It is by no means a "miracle cure" for the disease. Clinical trials in Phase III have indeed shown a 23% reduction in beta-amyloid plaques and cognitive decline. However, some experts emphasize that this treatment primarily slows cognitive decline rather than curing the disease. Furthermore, the treatment's efficacy appears to be mainly relevant for patients in the early stages of the disease, those with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.

It should also be noted that some seemingly reversible and infrequent side effects have been identified, and the medication must be closely monitored by a healthcare professional during treatment. These side effects primarily include headaches, falls, allergic reactions, and occasionally the risk of brain edema or microbleeds, which require careful monitoring. However, the benefit-to-risk ratio led the FDA to authorize the treatment based on the "consistent and highly persuasive" reduction in plaques.

While the FDA's authorization of Aducanumab does not yet signify the eradication of Alzheimer's, and we cannot celebrate defeating the disease, it does bring great hope. Above all, it allows us to hope that this significant discovery represents the beginning of a new path toward a series of advancements leading to the optimal outcome.

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