Gamechanger: New drug claim to slow Alzheimer’s disease effects

The Community News/New York

After Lecanemab, another game-changer drug Donanemab claims to slow Alzheimer’s disease effects in patients.

Developed by Indianapolis based Eli Lilly company, it claims to significantly slow cognitive and functional decline in early cases by 36%.

The pharma co recently completed phase 3 trials of the drug on 1,783 patients with 47% showing no decline in Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB).

This was compared with placebo treatment wherein 29% didn’t show sign of disease severity in the first year.

52% of patients took the drug for one year while 72% took the course for 18 months to remove distinctive plaques in the brain.

The patients 40% less decline in ability to perform daily chores in the initial 18 months [as measured by Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study.

Besides, they had 39% less chances of progressing to the next stage of Alzheimer’s disease as compared to placebo treatment.

Lilly Research Lab chief Daniel Skovronsky said their scientists have made breakthroughs in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

This was done by elucidating basic mechanisms of AD pathology and discovering imaging and blood biomarker tools to track the pathology.

“We are extremely pleased that Donanemab yielded positive clinical results with compelling statistical significance for people with Alzheimer’s disease in this trial.

This is the first Phase 3 trial of any investigational medicine for Alzheimer’s disease to deliver 35% slowing of clinical and functional decline,” he added.

However, there were reports that two participants including possibly one another died due to brain swelling.