In the United States, donanemab, a drug developed by Eli Lilly, could be authorized this year for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, following the results of a large clinical trial published recently. The treatment has been shown to slow the progression of the disease, particularly when administered early. However, some experts remain cautious about its effectiveness, calling it "modest" benefits and highlighting potentially dangerous side effects.
Donanemab, like lecanemab, targets amyloid plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and is administered intravenously. The clinical trial, conducted in eight countries on more than 1,700 people aged 60 to 85 with early disease, showed a 35% reduction in cognitive and functional decline over 18 months for a subgroup with lower levels of the Tau protein, indicating an even earlier stage of the disease.
However, the treatment carries risks, including serious side effects such as edema or cerebral hemorrhages, with three deaths likely linked to the treatment according to the study.
Some experts stress that it is crucial to collect more data, including over periods beyond 18 months, to better understand the balance between the benefits and risks of these drugs. They also criticize the low representation of people of color in the trial, even though they are more affected by the disease.
Although these "first generation" drugs are not perfect, they are considered a major breakthrough paving the way for many future treatments, according to experts in the field.
 Sophie de Duiéry
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19/07/2023 | 
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