Promising Alzheimer's Drug Slows Disease Progression and Offers Hope

An experimental drug called donanemab, developed by Eli Lilly, has shown promising results in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. New trial data presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference revealed that the drug can slow memory and thinking problems by about a third, with a rate of 60% if treatment is started when patients are only mildly impaired. However, the drug's effectiveness was less robust for older, later-stage patients and those with higher levels of the protein tau. Donanemab is an intravenous antibody designed to remove deposits of beta amyloid protein from the brains of Alzheimer's patients. The U.S. FDA is expected to decide on its approval by the end of the year.