Today, Eli Lilly announced positive topline results from their phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ2 clinical trial of donanemab, an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody for the treatment of early symptomatic Alzheimer s disease.
What you need to know about the FDA-approved drug for Alzheimer s
By: Newsy
and last updated 2021-06-09 09:38:59-04
It s the first FDA-approved drug for Alzheimer s in nearly 20 years. Usually FDA-approved drugs are covered by insurance and Medicare and Medicaid, said Dr. Huntington Potter, the director of the University of Colorado Alzheimer s and Cognition Center.
But questions linger about whether it actually works, and if health insurance companies will even front the estimated annual cost of $56,000 a year. The first thing to do is to talk to their regular primary care physician, Potter said.
The drug in question is called Aducanumab, or Aduhelm. According to the latest study, the drug slows cognitive decline by 22%. Experts say this isn t enough, but the FDA and Alzheimer s Association believe it s worth a shot.