study
New drug is said to be the breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s
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More and more people in this country are developing Alzheimer’s – and so far the disease cannot be cured. A new drug is said to be able to slow down the progression of the disease significantly.
It often starts with just a forgotten phone number or a name you just can’t remember. But Alzheimer’s is more than just forgetfulness: the degenerative brain disease not only leads to memory gaps, but also to speech disorders and sometimes massive changes in personality and behavior.
So far there is nothing against the disease remedy. However, a new study shows that the new drug donanemab could at least slow down the progression of the disease by up to 30 percent.
Protein deposits are reduced by the new drug
In Alzheimer’s, protein deposits form in the brain – in medicine this is referred to as so-called plaques. The reason for this is the protein beta-amyloid, which clumps together during the disease and is deposited between the nerve cells. This disturbs the communication between the nerve cells. This is exactly where drugs against Alzheimer’s come into play: They should remove the protein deposits. In addition to the new drug donanemab, the drugs aducanumab and lecanemab already approved in the USA also work in this way. However, their effect is not as good as that of donanemab.
The earlier it is treated, the better the effect
A total of 1,736 subjects between the ages of 60 and 85 took part in the new study all still in the early stages of Alzheimer’s were. The participants were divided into two groups. One group was treated with donanemab every four weeks for 72 weeks, while the control group received only a placebo. During the study period, the subjects’ brains were regularly examined.
The result: For 47 percent of the participants who were treated with the new drug, their health had not deteriorated after one year. In the control group, this was the case for only 29 percent of those affected. It was also noticeable that donanemab worked better the earlier it was administered. Furthermore, the protein deposits in the brain of many patients had been significantly reduced. Compared to the control group, they were able to cope better with their everyday life thanks to the medication. Commenting on the results, Richard Oakley, deputy director of research at the UK Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘This is truly a game changer in the fight against Alzheimer’s and the science is showing that it is possible to slow the disease down.’
Side effects dampen the joy
However, donanemab seems to have a clear disadvantage so far. The drug can ensure that the protein deposits change – this can cause potentially fatal swelling or bleeding in the brain. During the study period, this affected around 1.5 percent of all subjects, three of whom died. Slight brain swelling occurred in about every third person. According to Richard Oakley, this side effect should not be ignored: “Regulatory authorities need to weigh these side effects against the benefits of the drug.”
It is not yet clear when donanemab could hit the market. The manufacturer has so far applied for approval in the USA, and the British Medicines Agency is currently examining the drug.
Source: Donanemab in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease, jamanetwork.com