A “GROUNDBREAKING” drug has successfully slowed down Alzheimer’s – and could be available within two years.
Trial data shows patients given high doses of aducanumab experienced a “significant” boost to their memory and language skills.
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Its U.S. maker is now set to apply to regulators for approval for use against Alzheimer’s – giving hope to more than 500,000 Brits with the disease.
If given the green light, it will be the world’s first treatment for the brain-wasting disease.
Experts predict it could be available as soon as 2021.
Despite billions being spent on research, existing drugs only treat the symptoms, rather than the underlying cause of the illness.
Researchers said the experimental therapy successfully slowed dementia decline, allowing patients to continue living independently.
‘HUGELY EXCITING NEWS’
British scientists hailed the “hugely exciting news” as a potential life saver.
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “People affected by Alzheimer’s have waited a long time for a life-changing new treatment and this exciting announcement offers new hope that one could be in sight.”
Alzheimer’s is caused by a build-up of toxic proteins that damage brain cells.
The new drug works by helping to clear these deadly deposits.
Around 850,000 Brits currently have the brain-wasting disease – and the figure is expected to hit one million within a decade.
Two in three cases are due to Alzheimer’s, and could potentially be targeted by the new drug.
Its maker Biogen had initially scrapped the treatment after trials had failed.
‘GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH’
But a new analysis of the data show patients with early stage disease saw a “statistically significant reduction of clinical decline” when given high doses.
Biogen boss Michel Vounatsos said: “This is the result of groundbreaking research. We are hopeful about the prospect of offering patients the first therapy to reduce the clinical decline of Alzheimer’s disease and the potential implication of these results for similar approaches targeting amyloid beta.”
Trials also show the drug did not cause any serious symptoms in three out of four patients.
The head of the UK’s Dementia Research Institute Professor Bart De Strooper said it could be a “turning point” in the fight against the disease.
He said: “It is fantastic to hear of these new positive results emerging from the aducanumab trials.
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“We currently have no effective treatments to slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and I hope this signifies a turning point.”
Dr James Pickett, Alzheimer’s Society Head of Research said: “This is hugely exciting news. After the trial being stopped earlier this year because it appeared not to work, further analysis suggests that it does benefit people with dementia in the earliest stages.
“We’re waiting for further data but this could be the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in over 15 years, and as such, has the potential to be a transformative discovery.”
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