FDA Greenlights New Drug for Early Alzheimer Patients

An advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently unanimously voted in favor of greenlighting a new drug, donanemab, as a treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease. When asked, “Does the available data show that donanemab is effective for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in the population enrolled in the clinical trials with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia?” All members of the FDA’s Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee voted “yes.” The committee also voted a unanimous “yes” to the question of whether the benefits of donanemab outweigh the drug’s risk in Alzheimer’s patients who have mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.

The vote was uniformly welcomed by advocates in the Alzheimer’s community. A future with more approved treatments is a tremendous advancement for people who are eligible for these drugs. Advocates for Alzheimer’s research are finding more reasons to be optimistic than ever before. There are numerous new interventions that are showing promise, and the introduction of a new drug will only improve conditions for those who struggle with the illness.

“If approved, donanemab will expand the first class of disease-modifying drugs, serving as the building blocks for future generations of drugs,” Howard Fillit, MD, co-founder and chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, said in a statement from the foundation.

Recent improvements in Alzheimer’s treatment 

Recent studies have shown that diet and exercise can play a major role in slowing down the progression of the disease. Meanwhile, several drugs have been engineered that also slow down the progression of the disease. One of the newest ones, lecanemab, has been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in patients with mild cognitive problems.

Both lecanemab and donanemab are a class of amyloid plaque reducers. In January of 2023, the FDA gave the medication accelerated approval based on amyloid plaque clearance. A clinic trial showed that the drug inhibits the creation of amyloid plaque in the brain. Newer drugs like donanemab operate on the same theory. Such interventions can slow the progression of the illness.

Meanwhile, dietary and exercise interventions are also proving useful for slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Implementing a mostly plant-based diet and getting regular exercise combined with traditional therapies is showing that it can be effective in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Talk to a Virginia Beach, VA Long-Term Care Planning Attorney Today 

For those with Alzheimer’s diagnoses, it’s a race against time. The disease slowly causes the degeneration of the brain which results in decreased cognitive function, interference with the activities of daily living, and reduced quality of life. With recent interventions spreading optimism, however, it’s important to remember that medical doctors are hard at work attempting to control the progression of the disease. The Law Office of Angela N. Manz represents the interests of seniors who need to plan for long-term health care. We can help you manage your finances as your medical expenses increase. Call our Virginia Beach estate planning lawyers today to learn more.

Sources:

alzheimersnewstoday.com/news/fda-committee-votes-in-favor-of-donanemab-for-early-alzheimers/

yalemedicine.org/news/lecanemab-leqembi-new-alzheimers-drug#:~:text=Updated%3A%20July%2024%2C%202023.,stage%20cases%20of%20the%20disease.