For the first time in nearly 20 years, US authorities have approved a new drug for people with Alzheimer's. According to ABC News, the drug developed by Biogen will go on sale under the trade name Aduhelm.
It is noted that the development of the drug was accompanied by controversy about its effectiveness. Also, according to some experts,
the benefits of the medication are unlikely to outweigh the risk of serious side effects. At the same time, the decision of the authorities is of great importance for people with Alzheimer's, since it is the first drug aimed at slowing the progression of the disease. Aduhelm destroys amyloid, a protein that forms plaques in the human brain that damage cells and cause problems with memory, thinking and communication. According to the manufacturer, the drug, when combined with lifestyle changes, can help patients with early diagnoses of the disease.
Different points of view were taken into account when deciding on approval, the FDA said. The FDA also ordered Biogen to conduct additional large-scale clinical research and reserved the right to withdraw approval in the future. All this time, patients with Alzheimer's will have access to the new drug.
Previously, Swedish scientists have developed a simple and reliable method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease at the earliest stages. The new approach includes a blood test and three cognitive tests that take as little as 10 minutes to complete. The new method is 90 percent accurate. According to scientists, it should help more effective treatment of patients.
