a treatment slows the progression of the disease, according to the results of a clinical trial

The authorization of a new drug against Alzheimer’s could take place this year in the United States. On Monday July 17, the full results of a large-scale clinical trial of donanemab were published and confirmed the ability of this treatment, developed by the pharmaceutical group Eli Lilly, to slow the progression of the disease in patients, especially when is taken very early. Donanemab, like lecanemab approved in May by the US Medicines Agency, is administered intravenously and attacks plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, called amyloid plaques.

Three deaths during the trial

The clinical trial for Eli Lilly’s treatment was conducted in eight countries on more than 1,700 people aged 60 to 85 who had not yet reached an advanced stage of the disease. However, some experts remain cautious about this new treatment, the benefits of which remain “modest” and which has potential dangerous side effects, such as edema or cerebral hemorrhage. Especially since three deaths are probably linked to the treatment, according to the results of the trial published in the scientific journal jama.

“The modest benefits would likely not be questioned by patients, clinicians or taxpayers” if these treatments were “low risk, low cost and simple to administer”, reacted several experts. The latter also criticized the low proportion of people of color included in the trial, when they are more affected by the disease. Collecting more data, including beyond 18 months, would therefore be necessary in order to better understand the benefits-risks of donanemab.