Researchers say that removing amyloid can help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, arguing that the clumps are toxic and disrupt communication between cells.Ībout 90 percent of Alzheimer's patients have amyloid clumps in their brains. This then prompts other cells, called microglia which are responsible for maintaining neurons, to clear them. Once inside the organ, it binds to amyloid clumps that are already present. It is administered to patients via an intravenous injection and then travels to the brain.
The drug is a monoclonal antibody, a man-made protein that acts like an antibody. Previous research has shown that the clumps are toxic to neighboring cells, disrupting their function and leading to cell death.Ī cost for the drug is yet to be revealed, but researchers have suggested it will be priced at $1,600 per dose or $20,000 annually.ĭonanemab has been heralded as an 'encouraging' development in the fight against Alzheimer's disease after data showed it slowed the progression of the condition by 35 percent. The drug is a monoclonal antibody, a man-made protein that binds to amyloid clusters in the brain, prompting other cells to remove them.ĭonanemab is not a silver bullet for curing Alzheimer's, but researchers argue that clearing these protein clumps can slow the disease. Nearly a third of participants (31.4 percent) experienced a brain bleed, while about a quarter suffered brain swelling.ĭonanemab is administered to patients via once-a-month intravenous injections for up to 18 months, or until the amyloid clusters in the brain have been cleared. There were three fatalities, two of which were linked to serious adverse reactions from donanemab, such as brain swelling and microhemorrhages.
Treatment was stopped when it emerged that the amyloid plaques had been cleared.
Participants were then randomized to receive either a monthly intravenous injection of donanemab or a placebo for up to 18 months. They were from eight countries, including the US, UK and Australia.Īll participants also had build-ups of amyloid and tau proteins in their brains, which were confirmed by scans. remains concerning (to me, both as a neurologist clinician and a drug developer).'Įli Lilly recruited 1,700 people aged between 60 and 85 years old who had early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
'The results look very impressive,' she said, 'although the side effect profile.
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