Flash News

"SP gets 84 mandates", how did Open Data predict the results of May 11?

Tirana Court Sentences Dan Hutra, Serial Killer of Women, to Life in Prison

Shkëlqim Shehu wins mandate, most voted in Kukës from DP

About 80 thousand envelopes from the diaspora are being counted, results so far

Foreign exchange/ How much foreign currencies are bought and sold today

E-TJERA

FDA approves drug that slows Alzheimer's disease progression

Politiko 2023-01-08 17:09:20

FDA approves drug that slows Alzheimer's disease progression

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new drug that appears to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The FDA said Leqembi, known chemically as lecanemab, will be given to patients with mild or early stages of the degenerative brain disease. The drug is the first of its kind to convincingly show researchers that it can slow the decline of memory and thinking. The drug is expected to cost about $25,000 a year for a single patient.

The agency said its decision was based on a trial of 856 Alzheimer's patients. In late September, Eisai and Biogen, the companies that developed the drug, announced that a phase 3 clinical trial with 1,795 patients found that Leqembi slowed cognitive decline in people who took it by 27% after 18 months. "This medicine is not a cure. It doesn't stop people from getting worse, but it measurably slows the progression of the disease," neurologist Joy Snider said in an interview with NBC. "This could mean someone could have an extra six months to a year to drive." Medical experts said the drug comes with downsides, including potential side effects such as brain swelling and the need for twice-monthly infusions. The challenge in getting the drug to patients is the next obstacle, as it may be months before it is distributed and insurers must decide whether and how to cover the drug's high cost. According to health experts, nearly six million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's and millions more suffer from the disease worldwide.

FDA approves drug that slows Alzheimer's disease progression

Alzheimer's disease gradually attacks the areas of the brain needed for memory, reasoning, communication and everyday tasks. Scientists have developed a blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease without the need for brain scans or painful procedures where a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is taken from the lower back. If effective, the test could enable faster diagnosis of the disease, meaning therapies could begin earlier. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, but diagnosis remains difficult, especially during the early stages of the disease.

Latest news