Drug that could delay the effects of Alzheimer’s disease is approved

• FDA Gives ‘Green Light’ to New Drug That May Delay Alzheimer’s
• It Would Have Many Benefits for People Starting with the Disease
• It Is the Second Approved Medication for This Condition

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of a new drug for Alzheimer’s disease.

The drug is ‘donanemab,’ marketed under the brand name Kisunla and developed by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.

This drug would work effectively for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and would delay cognitive decline.

In December 2023, the FDA had already approved ‘Leqembi,’ developed by the Japanese company Eisai.

New Medication May Delay Alzheimer’s Effects

According to data from AP and other media like ‘Clarin,’ the medication is administered intravenously and directly targets the protein that causes Alzheimer’s.

Another good news is that while the Japanese drug is administered every two weeks, ‘donanemab’ would be administered once a month for 30 minutes.

As long as the amyloid plaque protein causing Alzheimer’s remains in the brain, the medicine will need to be administered.

However, the early stage of the disease must be detected in individuals for the dose to be effective, with effects visible within up to seven months.

It is also worth mentioning that the medicine has side effects, with risks such as brain inflammation and even bleeding.

In an FDA statement, it was reported that the medication delayed cognitive decline by up to 39 percent in patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s.

Related: Navigating life with Alzheimer’s: Tips for patients and caregivers

According to the WHO, approximately 55 million people worldwide live with dementia.

The cost of this medication in the market was not discussed, but it is presumed that due to its importance, prices will be high.

To listen to the podcast of this and other news, click on the photo