A breakthrough drug for Alzheimer's disease, Aducanumab, could be available on the NHS as early as 2022, following expected US approval. Developed by Biogen, the drug targets amyloid plaques in the brain, potentially slowing disease progression.
Clinical trials showed patients given Aducanumab experienced improved language skills, better time-tracking ability, and slower memory loss. Current treatments only mask symptoms, but this drug could modify the disease course.
Dr Susan Kohlaas of Alzheimer's Research UK called the drug 'huge hope' and urged regulators to fast-track approval, similar to Covid-19 vaccines. The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and NICE would need to approve it for NHS use.
Around one million Britons have Alzheimer's, which destroys memory and cognitive function. The drug is administered intravenously and works by clearing toxic protein clumps from the brain.
