A “GAME-CHANGING” drug shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s is set to be approved in the UK.
Lecanemab, developed by pharmaceutical company Eisai, is a targeted antibody treatment that binds to amyloid – a protein which builds up in the brains of people living with the disease.
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It is designed to help clear the build-up and slow down cognitive decline and is given to patients via an intravenous drip fortnightly.
The decision from the UK’s medicines regulator is due to be announced shortly, but it is understood to have approved the treatment.
Lecanemab is already licensed in the United States, where it costs about £20,000 per patient per year.
It was, however, rejected by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in July.
The EMA said the benefits of lecanemab did not counterbalance the risk of people suffering serious side effects, such as bleeding and swelling in the brain.
It also said the effects of the drug on delaying cognitive decline were small.
A similar drug called donanemab, which is developed by Eli Lilly, is also being assessed for approval in the UK by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
NHS England estimates between 50,000 and 280,000 patients might be eligible for the new treatments.
Prior to being given the drugs, they will need to have a baseline MRI scan and then either a PET-CT scan or lumbar puncture to confirm Alzheimer’s.
In total, around 900,000 Brits have dementia, with Alzheimer’s responsible for two in three cases. It is the UK’s top killer.
Cases are on the rise, with still no hope of a cure as current medications can only reduce symptoms.
Lecanemab has been hailed by experts as “the beginning of the end” for the disease as it has been found to slow cognitive decline by 27 per cent in sufferers.
Professor John Hardy, chairman of molecular biology of neurological disease at the UCL Institute of Neurology, described the drug as “game-changing”.
“There is no question this is the biggest advance for 30 years,” he added.
In the old days you were going to get five years before nursing home, now you might get seven years before nursing home care
Professor John Hardy
In November 2022, when the results of trials were published, he said lecanemab was “the beginning of the end” for Alzheimer’s.
“It slows the disease by about 25 to 30 per cent so, you know, maybe if in the old days you were going to get five years before nursing home, now you might get seven years before nursing home care,” Prof Hardy added.
Alzheimer’s Research UK said the same findings were a “historic moment” for dementia research.
This week’s potential ruling by the safety watchdog will mean it can be prescribed privately in Britain for the first time.
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence will then advise on whether it should be rolled out by the NHS.
An MHRA spokesperson told The Telegraph: “We are currently completing a rigorous assessment of the evidence supporting lecanemab in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Further information will be communicated in due course.”
What are the early symptoms of cognitive decline?
WE all notice a natural decline in memory and thinking as we age.
This will be more pronounced in some people, as they experience memory and thinking problems that are mild but still noticeable.
This is described as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Unlike dementia sufferers, people with MCI can still get on with day-to-day life.
Research suggests that two out of 10 people over the age
of 65 have MCI, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
About one in 10 people who’ve received an MCI diagnosis will go on to develop dementia.
Symptoms of MCI include:
Memory – Misplacing items or having trouble
remembering recent conversations.
- Attention problems – finding it difficult to concentrate,
e.g. while watching a TV programme or carrying out
duties at work - Disorientation – confusion about time, date or place
- Thinking skills – problems with planning or completing
tasks, e.g. managing money, or cooking a meal - Problems with communication and finding the right words
- Mood and behaviour changes – becoming irritable, anxious,
or feeling low
These symptoms may affect someone with MCI all the
time, or they might come and go.
There are steps we can take to keep our brains as healthy as possible. These include:
- Not smoking
- Doing regular physical activity
- Staying mentally and socially active
- Eating a healthy balanced diet
- Limiting the amount of alcohol we drink
- Having your hearing checked regularly
- Keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol
levels in check
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