Despite Advancement, Benefits From Alzheimer's Drugs May Be Limited, Say Researchers

Recently, Biogen Inc BIIB and Eisai Co ESALY announced encouraging data from the most-watched Alzheimer's therapies in the clinic.
Lecanemab cleared accumulations in the brain of beta-amyloid, sticky protein fragments that researchers have long suspected contribute to Alzheimer's.
Citing physicians and neurology researchers, Wall Street Journal reported that the drug's benefit to patients might be limited.
They said the reduction of cognitive decline that patients experienced was modest and might be too slight in some patients to justify potentially dangerous side effects.
Related: These Stocks Are On The Radar After Biogen-Eisai's Surprising Alzheimer's Trial Win.
Biogen and Eisai said that about 12% of patients who took lecanemab developed swelling and bleeding in the brain.
"We still have the whole cliff to climb, but at least now, we're on the first ledge," Robert Howard, a professor of old-age psychiatry at University College London, said of the lecanemab results.
"Scientifically, we see that busting amyloid plaques might make a small difference," Dr. Howard said. "But unfortunately, it's not enough to make a significant difference in patients."
Lecanemab is one of at least three drugs targeting beta-amyloid in development. Roche Holding AG RHHBY said it would release Phase 3 results for its drug, gantenerumab, in Q4. Eli Lilly And Co LLY said it would release Phase 3 results for its drug, donanemab, next year.
Biogen and Eisai said they would release full data from lecanemab's Phase 3 trial in November.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

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