Around the world, approximately 6.8 million people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. As a reminder, this impacts cognitive faculties and in particular memory. Over time, memories fade. Until then, no treatment was possible.
But this week, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that it had given the green light to Leqembi. This is a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease which, initially, should never have seen the light of day. In fact, the latter was blocked last July by the EMA, before it finally reversed course. A treatment that will not be intended for everyone.
A new treatment for Alzheimer’s?
Indeed, Leqembi’s mission will be to slow down or even stop the cognitive decline of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease, provided that they have been diagnosed at an early stage. A decision taken by the EMA which explains that it reassessed its position after having again studied the benefit-risk balance, which it ultimately considered to be positive.
During clinical trials, the patients concerned were administered Leqembi intravenously, once every 15 days. A significant reduction in amyloid plaques was then observed which form around the neurons of sick people. Problem is, this treatment involves (for the moment) quite serious side effects, such as a risk of cerebral hemorrhage.
China, United States and Japan have authorized the drug
As a result, not everyone will be able to have the right to it. In addition to being an early patient, you will also have to present a low risk of bleeding, by having one or no copies of certain genes (such as the ApoE4 gene). A treatment already authorized in the United States, but also in China and Japan, under conditions almost similar to what the EU recommends.
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