People with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease who take Leqembi can experience more benefits if they stay on it for three years, a new study shows.
When the drug was passed, it was tested on people for 18 months. During that trial, it reduced cognitive decline by 27% during that time period.
The new study was on about 95% of trial participants who stayed on the treatment for three years. After three years, Leqembi slowed cognitive decline by 31%, according to the presentations at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia.
Rates of adverse side effects that are linked with Leqembi, including brain bleeding and swelling, went down after six months of treatment, Lynn Kramer, MD, chief clinical officer of deep human biology learning at Eisai, which manufactures the drug, told CNBC.
The trial assessed three different groups of patients for three years. One group took Leqembi for three years; the second took a placebo for 18 months and then switched to Leqembi for the next 18 months. A control group didn’t receive any treatment.
When treatment was stopped, there were increases in Alzheimer’s-related disease biomarkers — the amyloid plaques came back.
Leqembi targets protofibrils, which are substances that form amyloid plaque clumps in the brain. It removes amyloid plaques and goes on to target protofibrils, which can injure brain cells.
Kisunla (donanemab), which was approved on July 2, only targets amyloid plaques. When the plaques are gone, patients can stop using the medication.
“There is no question long-term benefit is better than short-term benefit,” Lynn Kramer, Eisai’s chief clinical officer, told Reuters.
