This is Lecanemab, a promising drug against Alzheimer’s disease: “15 years ago this was unthinkable”

Dr. Jesús Porta-Etessam, president of the Spanish Society of Neurology, reviewed the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) approval of Lecanemab, the first drug with evidence of modifying the course of Alzheimer’s disease. Porta-Etessam stresses that although the results are modest, the drug represents “the first change to alter the natural history of the disease,” a significant advance in treating the disease.

The doctor explains that the EMA’s initial refusal in July was due to the risk of serious side effects, such as brain hemorrhages, which are seen in certain groups of patients. However, after exhaustive research, lower risk subgroups have been identified, allowing the range of use of the drug to be limited to ensure a positive balance between risks and benefits. “For example, patients with vascular amyloid or certain genetic risk factors were excluded,” he noted.

Despite the limitations, Porta-Etessam describes the progress as “very positive” and notes that the drug shows a 26% improvement in cognitive and functional parameters after 18 months of treatment. He also expects that its arrival in Spain could happen within a year or a year and a half.

The specialist took the opportunity to contextualize the achievement at what he called an “exciting time” for neuroscience, thanks to the development of treatments that target specific proteins involved in various neurodegenerative diseases. “We are developing near-precision treatments that would have been unthinkable 15 years ago,” he said. It highlights advances in the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and multiple sclerosis, as well as neuromuscular diseases, where treatment options are now available that previously did not exist.