Another experimental Alzheimer’s drug can modestly slow patients’ inevitable worsening — by about four to seven months, according to a study of 1,700 patients. Eli Lilly and Co. is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval of donanemab.
U.S. officials have granted full approval to a closely watched Alzheimer’s drug for patients with early stages of the disease.
Scientists say while these drugs may mark a new era in Alzheimer’s therapy, huge questions remain about which patients should try them and how much benefit they’ll really notice. The study had a few twists. Patients were switched to dummy infusions if enough amyloid cleared out — something that happened to about half within a year. And because amyloid alone doesn’t cause Alzheimer’s, researchers also tracked levels of another culprit in the brain — abnormal tau. More tau signals more advanced disease.
Another way of measuring: Among the donanemab recipients with lower tau levels, 47% were considered stable a year into the study compared with 29% of those who got the dummy version. Widera noted that the possibility of stopping donanemab treatment at least temporarily in people who respond well would help limit some of those challenges. For comparison, Leqembi is given by IV every two weeks and researchers didn’t test a similar stoppage.
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