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New Alzheimer’s Drugs Don’t Deserve the Hype – Here’s Why

  • September 12, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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New Alzheimer’s Drugs Don’t Deserve the Hype – Here’s Why

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Health

Introduction

  • Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes cognitive decline, memory loss, and behavioral changes, primarily affecting older adults.
  • Introduction to three drugs (aducanumab, lecanemab, and donanemab) that target amyloid, the protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
  • The breakthrough in slowing cognitive decline.

Four Key Shortcomings of New Alzheimer’s Drugs

  1. Tiny Benefits
  • In the donanemab trial, drug-treated patients declined by an average of ten points on a 144-point cognitive scale.
  • The placebo group declined by 13 points, indicating cognitive decline in all groups.
  • The small difference in cognitive decline reduction may not be noticeable to doctors.
  1. Side-Effects
  • Regular MRI scans found evidence of brain bleeding in one in six lecanemab-treated individuals and brain swelling in one in eight.
  • The long-term effects of these brain changes are unknown, and there have been a few deaths attributed to these drugs.
  1. Very Expensive
  • Aducanumab was initially marketed in the US for $45,000 per patient per year (later reduced to $20,000).
  • Lecanemab costs $26,500 per patient per year.
  • Additional costs include scans for eligibility, side-effect monitoring, infusion clinic staff, and ongoing amyloid clearance monitoring.
  • Patients also face regular clinic visits and concerns about side effects.
  1. Highly Selective Trials
  • The trials were highly selective, excluding patients with conditions other than amyloid-related pathology and significant medical problems.
  • The narrow eligibility criteria raise concerns about translating trial efficacy into real-world clinical effectiveness.

Additional Concerns

  • The trials targeted patients at the earliest disease stages, but even with successful amyloid clearance, cognitive decline persisted.
  • Participants in the trials were younger on average than typical Alzheimer’s patients.
  • Advocates exploring alternative treatment options beyond anti-amyloid drugs.
New Alzheimer’s Drugs Don’t Deserve the Hype – Here’s Why Science and tech

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