Alzheimer’s disease has long been one of the most complex and difficult to treat. However, hope seems on the horizon as several new drugs show the ability to slow their progress.
Eli Lilly, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical giants, announced that its experimental drug donanemab has successfully slowed cognitive and functional decline in patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. ScienceAlert writes that the announcement comes just months after a similar drug, lekambi, received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Donanemab is expected to generate billions in sales for Lilly, potentially up to $7.5 billion per year. Late-stage trials involving 1182 participants showed a 35 percent slowdown in clinical and functional decline at 18 months.
While the drug isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s, it can give patients more time to remember things.
Patients taking donanemab experienced less improvement in symptoms compared to those taking a placebo. However, some serious side effects should be considered, including swelling or other abnormalities in the brain. Before deciding to use a drug, patients and their doctors should weigh the drug’s benefits against its side effects.
Donanemab and lekambi reduce protein levels in the brain that are thought to be responsible for the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Lekambi is intended to be taken long-term, while donanemab is given every four weeks. Clinicians and analysts will analyze the data to determine the advantages and disadvantages of each drug.
New drugs like Donanemab and Lilly’s diabetes drug Munjaro are expected to help the company boost sales. Shares of Lilly rose 8.8 percent in early trading Wednesday after the positive test results were announced.
However, another well-known drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Aduhelm, was a commercial flop due to mixed data on whether it actually helped patients.
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Important! This article is based on and does not contradict the latest scientific and medical research. The text is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice. Be sure to see a doctor for a diagnosis.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.