The pharmaceutical company Eisai have announced positive results from a large trial of the drug 'lecanemab' for the treatment of mild Alzheimer's disease.
Prof Tara Spires-Jones from The University of Edinburgh said:
"The scientific community has not seen the data around this clinical trial, but if the data live up to the announcement, this will be absolutely amazing news. In fact, I'm a bit emotional at the prospect of anything working - I've been studying brain changes in Alzheimer's disease for 18 years and we've had a lot of disappointments despite some amazing scientific advances. I hope this is the turning point!
While this is not a "cure" in that it doesn't bring people back to normal, slowing cognitive decline and preserving the ability to perform normal daily activities would still be a huge win because people could live well for longer with Alzheimer's disease. If these data stand up to peer review, the drug could make a big difference and will be a fantastic example of how fundamental research into the brain can make people's lives better."
The manufacturers of the drug have stated they will now look to apply to the relevant regulatory bodies in the US, Japan and Europe for approval of the medication for clinical use.
We will update this page as more details become available.
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