The Promising Future for Alzheimer’s Patients with Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s Drug
Niki Anagnostou
Memories define who we are and morphe us into the people we are today. Our ability to form, create, and hold onto memories is something that many take for granted. Many of those who suffer from or have family members who suffer from Alzheimer's, a form of dementia that lessens cognitive abilities, which ultimately leads to memory loss, understand how important memory is to everyday life. Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease not only lose control of their cognitive functions, but eventually lose the ability to take care of themselves. The need for a cure to Alzheimer’s is stronger than ever, as the CDC predicts that there will be 13.9 million people in 2060 who will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease in comparison to the current 5.8 million Americans of today. Until recently, there was no official treatment for the disease and the only way to momentarily suppress Alzheimer's symptoms is through medication.
In mid-January, Eli Lilly and Company released exciting news for the Azheimer’s community with the introduction of their experimental drug that reportedly slows the progression of the loss of cognitive abilities in Alzheimer's patients. Researchers found that the beta amyloid protein in the brain builds up before patients experience memory loss, thus leading them to hypothesize that the beta-amyloid protein is the reason for the cognitive decline associated with the disease. Additionally, researchers have uncovered a pattern in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, learning that it starts with the build up of the amyloid protein, then results in the appearance of a protein called tau, and finally, the death of the neurons. With this new data, researchers concluded that the destruction of the amyloids are vital to the prevention of Alzheimer’s because the destruction of amyloids kick starts the symptoms of the disease.
The research done led Eli Lilly to create its experimental drug, called donanemab or Alzforum. Donanemab is already seeing favorable results in phase 2 of its clinical trial. Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody that targets N3pG, which is a modified form of beta amyloid. In order to test the drug, researchers gathered 272 participants with brain scans that showed either mild or moderate tangles from tau for a two-year trial. During these two years, they gauged the amyloid plaque through brain scans and tracked cognitive abilities and normal functions through a questionnaire filled out by the patients' caregivers. To increase accuracy, a placebo group was also studied.
The results were quite astonishing; in comparison to the placebo group, the experimental group showed an average decrease of about 84 to 108 centiloids after a total of 76 weeks following the first dose of the drug. After 18 months, the slowed progression of memory loss and increased ability to carry out daily functions increased by 32%. The promising results bring high hopes for patients and their families, with Donanemab being the only drug to have made it into phase 2 of clinical trials with positive results.
Even with its success, many still approach donanemab with some skepticism, as different drugs typically show promising results early in their testing phases yet fail to treat the disease they are meant to target. Some have commented on the fact that the data pertaining to the drug has not been released for outside experts to analyze, while others criticize the trial size. Eli Lilly and Company hopes to combat these doubts by releasing their data for expert review and are currently in the process of discussing further testing plans for the drug with the FDA. Although research on the effectiveness and safety of donanemab is still a work in progress, its arrival marks the beginning of the long-awaited fight to prevent and cure Alzheimer's disease.
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