News: Recently, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration approved lecanemab (Leqembi) for early Alzheimer’s disease.
About Lecanemab Drug
- It is a disease-modifying immunotherapy for early Alzheimer’s disease.
- Aim: It aims to address underlying disease processes rather than only relieve symptoms.
- It may slow progression in some people with an early diagnosis.
- It is not a cure and does not reverse existing symptoms.
- It will not benefit dementia caused by other conditions or Alzheimer’s that has progressed beyond early stages.
- Working Mechanism
- Lecanemab is a monoclonal antibody produced in a lab that targets amyloid-beta, including its soluble protofibrils—the protein build-ups that are a key sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
- When lecanemab attaches to these proteins, it acts like a marker that tells the body’s immune cells to find and clear them.
- By helping remove this amyloid build-up, the drug aims to limit ongoing damage to brain cells and slow decline in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
- Issues with Lecanemab Drug
- Accessibility: It costs about A$40,000 per year, making access difficult for many.
- Side-effects: Reported risks include brain swelling and small brain bleeds, with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and balance problems in some.
- Other Alternative Drugs: Donanemab works in a similar way.
About Dementia
- Dementia is a condition that leads to progressive memory or thinking problems and is now the most common cause of death in Australia.
- Causes: There are many causes of dementia, but Alzheimer’s disease accounts for around 60–80% of all cases.
