The Australian Agency for the Regulation of Drugs and Therapies has approved the first drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved the drug Donanemab, which has been found to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by clearing protein from the brain.
The drug is intended for people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common type of dementia. It is the leading cause of death among women in Australia and the second most common among men.
The drug is administered as an intravenous infusion every four weeks, for a maximum of 18 months.
Clinical trials have shown that it can help in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
However, it cannot cure or stop cognitive decline. But it can slow the disease and allow people a better quality of life for a longer time.
The drug, which is already approved in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S.), is not listed at this stage in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which means it is not subsidized by the government and its use will cost between 40.000 and 80.000 dollars per year.
However, health experts warn of side effects such as brain swelling and bleeding, calling for careful monitoring.
