At this year’s Annual Public Information Forum presenters focused on new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
Last week, the Wien Center for Alzheimer’s Disease & Memory Disorders co-hosted their Annual Public Information Forum, a virtual event presented by Mount Sinai Medical Center Miami Beach, the University of Florida, and the 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. This year’s theme was “Recent Advances in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.”
The forum featured presentations and panel discussions with various medical experts including co-host Dr. Ranjan Duara, Director of the Wien Center at Mount Sinai.
Presenters focused on the underlying changes in the brain that are caused by Alzheimer’s disease, how Lecanemab (latest FDA approved monoclonal antibody medication) works to remove amyloid protein (following successful clinical trial results), non-pharmacological treatment options, and the potential impact of choosing Lecanemab on patients and their families.
At its core, Alzheimer’s disease involves the accumulation of brain amyloid, which can lead to a multitude of pathological changes, including progressive deterioration of cognitive and functional abilities. With the development of game changing diagnostic tools, researchers and clinicians are now able pinpoint the buildup of amyloid protein through various tests, involving spinal fluid, brain PET scans, and most recently, blood tests. These tests lead to accurate diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease, which allow clinicians to monitor the amount of amyloid present in the brain, while determining the effectiveness of certain drugs on the removal process. Tests can also confirm whether brain amyloid may resurface in the future.
So far, two drugs — Aducanumab and Lecanemab have received FDA approval based on their success in removing amyloid protein. Aducanumab (ADUHELM), which is manufactured by U.S. biotech company, Biogen, is recognized as the first treatment therapy to display the effects of removing beta-amyloid from the brain to delay neurological decline.
Through the Clarity AD Clinical Trial, Lecanemab successfully removes amyloid protein from the brain and does slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s on a patient’s ability to perform complex day-to-day tasks. However, Lecanemab is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and does not lead to temporary or permanent improvement in memory or the ability to performing everyday tasks.
Currently, Lecanemab is administered in the form of intravenous infusions every four weeks, usually in a hospital-based infusion center, for at least a year to 18 months, along with repeated MRI scans to monitor any serious side effects. Simpler methods of delivering Lecanemab, e.g., via subcutaneous infusion are being investigated, although it is challenging to deliver a sufficient and effective dose of the drug with this method.
Patients and their families must also weigh the pros and cons of monoclonal antibody treatments (such as Lecanemab) as they can cause adverse effects, including infusion-related reactions, ARIA E, and rare brain hemorrhages. Also, with regard to retail pricing, treatments can be rather costly, but medical coverage is currently under evaluation.
Lecanemab is likely to benefit patients experiencing mild impairment from the initial stages of Alzheimer’s disease and will hopefully receive full FDA approval by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
Donanemab, another promising monoclonal antibody drug (manufactured by U.S. pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly and Company), is currently in the final stages of clinical trials to treat Alzheimer’s.
Overall, we cannot wait to see the eventual impact of monoclonal bodies in targeting amyloid protein and treating Alzheimer’s disease.
If you or a loved one is experiencing memory loss, we invite you to take advantage of the Wein Center’s FREE memory screenings. Learn more here: Memory Disorders & Alzheimer’s Disease Treatments & Diagnosis (msmc.com).
