What we know about the Alzheimer’s drug approved by Health Canada
hHealth Canada has given conditional approval to the drug lecanumab to slow early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, raising questions about its effectiveness and availability in Canada.
Lecanimab is a laboratory-made antibody that is given by intravenous infusion. It targets the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain, ahSymptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Lecanumab is not a cure and cannot be treatedcure disease or regain lost Memories.
The Alzheimer Society of Canada calls it the first disease-modifying Alzheimer’s Treatment Approved for use in the country. Current medications reduce symptoms rather than eliminate them change course Of disease.
Drew is so goodg work and its potential impact on Canada’s health care systems are now a consideration for people living with the disease, their families, physicians and governments.
Who is eligible?
Lecanimab, also known by the brand name Lecambi, is approved to treat mild cognitive impairment and the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Patients must have a document appearance of amyloid plaques in the brain, the Canadian Drug Agency said.
Patients should also seek testing for gene variants associated with negative side effects. The new treatment is available only for patients who have one or no copies of a gene variant called APOE4. Patients with two APOE4 copies are more likely to experience swelling or bleeding In the brain.
requires access to genetic testing Varies across provinces and territories.
Is it effective?
When someone is diagnosed with dementia, a common fear is losing the ability to remain independent, said Dr. Samir Sinha, a geriatrician and physician scientist at Mount Sinai Health and University Health Network in Toronto.
“Right now, it takes about 18 months before you see any kind of significant difference,” Sinha said.
It is estimated that 750,000 Canadians suffer from dementia and approximately 500,000 of them have dementia. diagnosisSinha said. Many people may not be good candidates for this drug until they receive a formal diagnosis, he said.
Sinha said he thinks more research is needed to answer whether lecanmab’s benefits are worth the US$26,000 it costs in other items.Reece. He questioned whether the results would be noticeable enough for patients to remain independent.
“It is a positive development that there is another drug that has been approved and that is available, but it is not necessarily a drug that would be the most practical to prescribe or recommend for the majority of my patients.”
At the last count in 2018, more than one million young people were caring for someone with serious health problems. This number is only expected to increase. Now, there are calls to provide them with more funding and better support. CBC’s Jennifer Yoon has more.
what does that involve?
Although there is no single diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s, To confirm eligibility for this medication, people first need to have a special diagnosis such as a lumbar puncture or an amyloid PET scan.
Infusions are given through IV every two weeks, with each session taking about an hour. in America, injection Given in hospitals and infusion therapy centers.
Anyone taking the drug requires ongoing monitoring, usually with a PET scan or MRI, to ensure safety and effectiveness.
The Alzheimer’s Society said, “Meeting these demands will require substantial investment in human resources, infrastructure, training, and the creation of new health care pathways to deliver such treatments effectively and equitably.”
What are the side effects?
Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging outlines side effects which emerged in clinical trials, like brain swelling or bleeding For two antibody treatments including lecanumab.
Cost and coverage
The Society urged the Canadian Drug Agency and provincial governments to bring the drug to market quickly and get it publicly funded so that all eligible patients can take it, noting that in other countries it costs about $26,000 US per year.
It can take up to two years after regulatory approval for new drugs to be publicly covered. Private or extended benefits may provide early access.
In 2024, of britain The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) concluded that the benefits of lecanumab were too small to justify the cost to the publicly funded health system. Providing treatment, including giving medications and monitoring side effects.
