The Donanemab treatment is capable of significantly slowing down the cognitive decline linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Eli Lilly laboratory which developed it.
- A new treatment, Donanemab, which aims to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients, is showing great promise.
- A third of the patients who took it showed a slowing of their cognitive decline.
- The laboratory that designed it intends to apply for marketing authorizations soon.
This is encouraging news for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones. The Donanemab treatment, developed by the American laboratory Eli Lilly, has shown very positive results during a phase 3 clinical study. The company will take steps to obtain marketing authorization.
Alzheimer’s: a new treatment that targets amyloid plaques
Donanemab contains monoclonal antibodies. These target the amyloid protein, which causes the plaques that form around neuronal connections and prevent neurons and neurotransmitters from functioning properly in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The elimination of these elements makes it possible to slow down cognitive decline.
The study brought together nearly 1,200 people aged 60 to 85 who were at a mild stage of neurodegenerative pathology. The data collected shows that individuals treated with Donanemab, had a slowing of the decline of 36% over 18 months. In addition, the cognitive decline of almost half (47%) of the volunteers who received the new drug had not increased in one year, compared to a rate of 29% among the group who took the placebo.
Some of the participants on Donanemab also showed improvement in their cognitive abilities such as being able to drive, have a leisure activity or discuss recent events. Faced with these positive results, the American company has indicated that it wants to file an authorization request with the American Medicines Agency (FDA) this quarter, and in the world “as quickly as possible”.
Donanemab: brain swelling as a possible side effect
During the experiment, several undesirable effects were identified. First, the researchers note a “temporary swelling in one or more areas of the brain” in one third of patients. Cerebral microhaemorrhages have also been observed on MRIs of some patients.
The researchers add that the brain swelling is “usually asymptomatic, although serious and life-threatening events can occur”. Two participants died during the trial. A third death has occurred, but the causal link has not been clearly established.
Mark Mintun, group vice president Neuroscience Research & Development at Lilly, is however confident in the interest of the drug. “We are encouraged by the potential clinical benefits that Donanemab may provide, although like many effective treatments for debilitating and life-threatening conditions, there are associated risks which can be serious and life-threatening.”he explained in a press release.
