Breakthrough as new drug ‘slows decline in Alzheimer’s patients by 27%’
A WORLD-FIRST drug to beat dementia has been proven to work in a breakthrough trial.
Scientists hailed the “historic moment for dementia research” after tests on 1,800 patients found the drug lecanemab slows memory-robbing Alzheimer's.
There are no treatments for the crippling condition and dozens of studies have failed.
Pharma companies Eisai and Biogen say their medicine clears toxic proteins out of the brain, staving off nerve damage and buying precious extra time.
Dr Susan Kohlhaas, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “These results demonstrate a major breakthrough in dementia research.
“They show lecanemab slows the progression of memory and thinking problems in people with early Alzheimer’s.
“This is the first drug that’s been shown to not only remove the build-up of a protein called amyloid in the brain, but to have a statistically significant impact on cognitive decline in people with early-stage disease.
“This is a historic moment for dementia research.”
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Professor Rob Howard, dementia expert at University College London, added: “God knows, we’ve waited long enough for this.”
Around 900,000 people in the UK have dementia, with Alzheimer's disease causing two in three cases.
It is incurable and often begins with forgetfulness and confusion before severe brain damage leads to mental and physical disability –and ultimately death.
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and is the leading cause of death for women and second for men, behind heart disease.
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Scientists have spent years trying to prove that reducing levels of a toxic protein called amyloid will slow the disease.
This study offers the first solid proof that it is both possible to remove amyloid and that doing so prevents dementia symptoms.
Eisai and Biogen gave one dose of their antibody drug lecanemab every two weeks to around 900 people with early-stage Alzheimer’s – and a placebo drug to another 900.
After 18 months, those given the real treatment had brain scores 27 per cent higher than patients given a fake medicine, proving their disease had slowed down.
Scans also revealed lower levels of amyloid protein in their brains.
Even though it cannot cure Alzheimer’s, this could buy patients precious months or even years of extra time before they lose their faculties.
Prof Bart De Strooper, director of the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: “This is hugely positive news for the millions of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease worldwide.
“It’s important that we aim to administer lecanemab, and drugs like it, as early as possible in the disease course.
“Changes to the brain begin decades before symptoms appear in Alzheimer’s.
“Therefore, intervening rapidly gives these medicines the best chance of slowing brain degeneration before too much damage is done.”
Eisai said it plans to apply for drug regulator approval early next year, which will be the first step to getting it rolled out to patients.
The injection will be expensive and it could take years for the NHS to set up clinics that are able to give it out.
Lecanemab can also cause severe side effects including deadly brain bleeds, which medics will have to weigh against the benefits.
Dr Kohlhaas said: “If the drug is approved, it is essential that it gets to the people who may benefit from it as quickly as possible.
“Now is the time to be making sure that our health system is set up to deliver life changing treatments – right now only one in three psychiatry services would be ready to deliver one within a year.”
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Dr Liz Coulthard, from the University of Bristol, added: “Until now many people have not come forward when they first worry about their memory as there were no treatments for dementia.
“It is very likely more people will come to see their doctor now – and doctors need to be ready.”