“New Drug Against Alzheimer’s Developed: Promising Results and Potential Approval – Metronieuws.nl”

A new drug against Alzheimer’s works, the results of a study into the drug show. That is promising, says professor Wiesje van der Flier of the Alzheimer Center of Amsterdam UMC. “The drug counteracts brain damage and slows down the disease process. That’s hopeful.”

The global research will be presented at the AAIC International Alzheimer’s Congress, which will take place in Amsterdam in July. Van der Flier looks forward to the publication of the results in a scientific journal. “The results are also consistent with the results of a similar drug published late last year. That inspires confidence,” the professor countered ANP.

Drug approval

The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company will now apply for approval for the drug from the US regulator FDA. “This drug could then soon become available on the American market, together with another drug that the FDA has already approved,” says Van der Flier. “It may take another two years before it is in the Netherlands.” This also requires approval for this drug with the name Donanemab from the European regulator EMA.

Important aspects are taken into account for that approval. For example, there are risks associated with the drug, which is administered through an intravenous drip. Usually the side effects are mild and are limited to dizziness or sometimes blurred vision. But in rare cases it can also cause bleeding. “The positive and negative aspects must be weighed against each other,” says Van der Flier. In addition, treatment with the drug is intensive and the drug is expensive.

Prevent brain damage

The drug must be used at an early stage of the disease. “The brain damage of Alzheimer’s occurs over a period of twenty or thirty years. When there is actually dementia, you are already late,” explains Van der Flier. It therefore concerns a relatively small group of patients who are exactly at the right stage for the use of this drug

All in all, it will take some time before Alzheimer’s is gone, says Van der Flier. “But this drug is an important step.” In the meantime, many other studies are underway into medicines against forms of dementia. “In this way it may eventually become possible to combat many different forms of brain damage,” hopes the Amsterdam professor.

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