A new drug called Donanemab has been hailed as a “turning point in the fight against Alzheimer’s” after it demonstrated the ability to slow the progression of the disease. Clinical trials revealed that Donanemab can slow “clinical decline” by up to 35%, allowing individuals with Alzheimer’s to continue performing day-to-day tasks such as shopping, housekeeping, managing finances, and taking medication.
The positive results of the drug have sparked hope within the medical community. Alzheimer’s Research UK stated that “we’re entering a new era where Alzheimer’s disease could become treatable,” while the Alzheimer’s Society believes that treatments like Donanemab could transform Alzheimer’s into a manageable long-term condition, similar to asthma or diabetes. The charity sees these new treatments as a herald of a “new era” for Alzheimer’s disease.
Donanemab works by removing amyloid plaques, a protein that accumulates in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s. The drug was tested in a trial known as TRAILBLAZER ALZ-2, which examined its safety and efficacy. The study involved nearly 1,800 participants in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, with half receiving monthly infusions of Donanemab and the other half receiving a placebo over an 18-month period.
The final results of the trial showed that Donanemab slowed clinical decline by 35.1% in individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s who had low or medium levels of tau protein, as shown in brain scans. When the results were analyzed for individuals with different levels of tau protein, a 22.3% reduction in disease progression was observed.
Key findings from the study include:
– The drug demonstrated meaningful benefits for some patients.
– Participants with earlier stages of the disease and lower levels of brain amyloid at the start of the trial experienced greater benefits, as reflected in brain scans.
– Those who received Donanemab retained more of their day-to-day abilities, such as engaging in discussions about current events, answering phone calls, or pursuing hobbies.
– Overall, the drug slowed the pace of the disease by approximately 20-30%, with a 30-40% reduction observed in a subset of patients deemed more likely to respond.
– Significant side effects were reported, and patients need to be aware of the risks associated with the treatment.
– After a year of treatment, half of the patients receiving Donanemab were able to discontinue the drug as it had successfully cleared a sufficient amount of brain deposits.
While the results of the trial are promising, further research and monitoring of the drug’s long-term effects are necessary. Nevertheless, Donanemab offers hope for the millions of individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s, potentially providing a breakthrough in the fight against this debilitating disease.
