Eli Lilly's Experimental Alzheimer's Drug Slows Cognitive Decline by 35%

Key Highlights :

1. Eli Lilly and Co has developed a drug called donanemab which has been shown to slow cognitive decline by 35% in a closely watched late-stage trial.

2. The drug is likely to become the third in its class on the market following U.S. approval of two similar medicines developed by partners Eisai and Biogen - Leqembi and Aduhelm, which failed to gain traction with doctors or insurers after showing little evidence that they slowed cognitive decline.

3. Over 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, and the number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

     Hope has been restored for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease after Eli Lilly and Co announced that their experimental drug, donanemab, has been successful in slowing cognitive decline by 35% in a late-stage trial. The results of the trial, which involved 1,182 people diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's, showed that the drug slowed progression of the disease by 35% to 36% compared to a placebo.

     The drug, which is administered via a monthly intravenous infusion, was also shown to slow cognitive decline by 22% using a Lilly-developed scale, and by 29% based on a more commonly used scale of dementia progression. This is the strongest phase 3 data for an Alzheimer's treatment to date, according to Maria Carrillo, chief science officer for the Alzheimer's Association.

     The news sent Eli Lilly's shares 5.6% higher to $427.05, while rival Biogen fell 2.5% to $301.50 in premarket trading. While the drug was associated with some side effects, such as brain swelling and brain bleeding, the incidence of serious brain swelling in the donanemab study was 1.6%, including two deaths attributed to the condition.

     Eli Lilly plans to file for traditional U.S. approval by the end of June, and with regulators from other countries shortly thereafter. While the company is still working on finalizing the price for donanemab, it plans to keep it in the same range as other similar therapies.

     Over 6 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's, and the number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The success of donanemab has given hope to those suffering from the disease, as well as their families and carers, that there is a potential for a second effective treatment.

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