New, once a month Alzheimer’s drug gets FDA approval, works in the early stages of the diseas

Eli Lilly’s Kisunla injection is expected to significantly lower treatment costs

A new drug that can significantly help Alzheimer’s patients in the early stages of the disease, has received approval of the Food and Drug Administration in the USA. 

Eli Lilly’s Kisunla which, the company claims is the first drug to target amyloid plaques that can be discontinued once these are gone, is expected to significantly lower treatment costs. he price of each vial of Kisunla is $695.65. It needs to be administered once a month. Amyloid is a substance produced in the body that can deposit in the brain in the form of plaques, aggravating dementia symptoms. 

“Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating disease for the person diagnosed and their loved ones,” said Teresa Buracchio, director of the Office of Neuroscience in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The trial data demonstrated, convincingly, that Kisunla reduces the rate of cognitive and functional decline in patients in the mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Today’s approval is evidence of the FDA’s commitment to helping more safe and effective drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease become available.” 

Alzheimer’s Disease which is one of the commonest forms of dementia, is a cause for grave concern for families because of the progressive nature of the disease and at an advances stage the all consuming memory loss that can make daily life of the patient completely dependent on the caregiver.

There has been research the world over on how to identify AD at an early stage with some theories suggesting that depression can be an early red flag. The new drug has raised hopes also of early treatment.

Eli Lilly said in a statement that among the overall population of participants, Kisunla reduced amyloid plaques on average by 61% at 6 months, 80% at 12 months, and 84% at 18 months compared to the start of the study. Kisunla can help the body remove the excessive buildup of amyloid plaques and slow the decline that may diminish people’s ability to remember new information, important dates, and appointments; plan and organize; make meals; use household appliances; manage finances; and be left alone, the company added.