A new drug for Alzheimer’s disease jointly developed by Japanese and American pharmaceutical companies was approved by the FDA on the 6th as a therapeutic drug because it showed the effect of reducing abnormal proteins accumulated in the patient’s brain. announced.
The FDA approved a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease on the 6th, a new drug “lecanemab” jointly developed by Japanese pharmaceutical giant “Eisai” and American “Biogen”.
In the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, an abnormal protein called “amyloid beta” accumulates, and it is believed that this causes the destruction of nerve cells.
The FDA has evaluated that an intermediate-stage trial conducted by a research group involving about 850 people showed the effect of reducing ‘amyloid beta’ from the brains of patients who received this drug.
The approved therapeutic drug is expected to have the effect of preventing the destruction of nerve cells by removing amyloid β before it accumulates, and suppressing the progress of the disease itself.
This is the second time that an Alzheimer’s disease drug that acts on ‘amyloid β’ has been approved in the United States, and the FDA says it is ‘an important advance in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.’
This approval is based on a system called “accelerated approval,” which provides faster treatment to patients with serious illnesses. I am planning to apply.
What is “lecanemab”?
Lecanemab has been developed as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease by Eisai, a major pharmaceutical company, in collaboration with the American pharmaceutical company Biogen.
Alzheimer’s disease treatments have so far been able to delay the worsening of symptoms by acting on nerve cells, but there are no drugs approved in Japan that suppress the progression of the disease itself.
In the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, an abnormal protein called “amyloid beta” accumulates, and it is believed that this causes the destruction of nerve cells.
“Lecanemab” is intended to remove “amyloid β” by binding it to an artificially produced antibody at the stage before it solidifies, and is expected to have the effect of preventing the destruction of nerve cells and suppressing the progression of the disease itself. .
However, since it is not possible to regenerate damaged nerve cells, it is said that it is important to administer it at the stage of “mild cognitive impairment” before the onset of symptoms or at an early stage after the onset.
Eisai “We will do our best to promptly complete the application for full approval”
In response to this approval, Eisai said, “This is the result of our ongoing efforts to alleviate the concerns of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. We will do our best to make the medicine accessible to those who need it, and we will do our best to quickly achieve the full approval application. I will work on it,” he commented.
Patient/Family Support Group “Expecting Results”
Dr. Heather Snyder of the Alzheimer’s Association, which supports Alzheimer’s disease patients and their families in the United States, said that research groups such as Eisai confirmed the effectiveness of this drug in slowing the progression of symptoms last November. “What we know from the published paper is that lecanemab can help early patients with this disease to spend more time in their daily lives—that is, spend more time with their spouses, children, and grandchildren.” You can expect them to recognize you as family and be able to attend weddings and spend vacations.”
He added, “There are currently limited treatment options for people living with Alzheimer’s disease. Using this approved drug in the early stages of the disease can improve the overall quality of life for patients.” I believe,” he said with hope.