Donanemab, an experimental drug from Eli Lilly, In a study conducted on 1,736 people, it was shown that it reduced cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease by 35%. Like its competitor, lecanemab, it targets the amyloid protein. The study results provide evidence that amyloid is an important driver of Alzheimer’s disease.
However, until full results are published, questions remain about the drug’s clinical usefulness and whether the modest benefit outweighs the risk of harmful side effects.
While important and impressive, Marsel Mesulam, a neurologist at Northwestern University in Chicago, is cautious about the study’s results. He says the modest effect suggests that factors other than amyloid contribute to Alzheimer’s disease progression.
Eli Lilly announced that the full study results will be submitted and published in a peer-reviewed journal in July, and plans to apply for FDA approval within the next two months.
Donanemab has a high risk of side effects, including seizures and bleeding in the brain, and results published by Eli Lilly show only slower cognitive decline relative to the placebo group.
While lucrative for pharmaceutical companies, the cost of drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s could exceed healthcare systems in the US and other countries. However, geriatric psychiatrist Brent Forester says the initial results provide “further support for this therapy to play a role in their disease in the right patients at the right time.”
Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.
