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Alzheimer's drug Leqembi: High expectations and mixed hopes
The EMA recommends Leqembi for Alzheimer's treatment, but limited to early stages and unclear effects in women.
Alzheimer's drug Leqembi: High expectations and mixed hopes
Düsseldorf (ots)
A groundbreaking step in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease - the drug Leqembi, which contains the active ingredient lecanemab, has received approval from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). But here comes the downside: approval is severely restricted. Only patients with one or no copy of the ApoE4 gene can hope to benefit from this drug. A strict access program is put in place to ensure that only recommended patients are treated.
Dr. Anne Pfitzer-Bilsing, head of the Alzheimer's Research Initiative, is optimistic: "This is a groundbreaking decision. This is expected to fundamentally reset the course for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease." Leqembi could slow the progression of the disease and brings new hope in the otherwise difficult-to-treat Alzheimer's disease. However, it should be noted that the treatment will only be available to a small group of sufferers at a very early stage, and patients with a double ApoE4 gene are excluded as they are at increased risk of serious side effects.
Risk and effect
The possible side effects are not without: cerebral hemorrhages and brain swelling are among the potential dangers, which is why treatment must be closely monitored. Patients taking blood thinners are also at risk. It is administered intravenously every two weeks and requires patients to be mobile and resilient. Despite these challenges, Alzheimer's patients will soon be able to decide together with their doctors whether they want to use the new therapy option.
Another exciting question arises: How do women benefit from Leqembi? Initial studies show alarming differences in effectiveness - while men experience a 43 percent slowdown in progression, the figure for women is only 12 percent. This leaves the question open as to what factors lie behind this difference and how treatment can be further improved.