Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's drug shows promising results in clinical trials.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf praised Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's treatment donanemab, which showed a 35% slower decline in memory and thinking in patients who received the monthly antibody infusion during an 18-month study. The treatment also significantly reduced brain plaque associated with the disease. The company plans to submit its application for FDA approval of donanemab this quarter. Medicare is currently restricting access to Alzheimer's antibody treatments that receive expedited FDA approval for patients participating in clinical trials. Lilly now plans to ask the FDA for full approval of donanemab, which would presumably come with broader coverage from Medicare.