The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) recently welcomed the decision by the European Commission to move forward with the approval of Leqembi (lecanemab) for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease. On 15 April, the Commission granted EU authorisation for a medicine to treat mild cognitive impairment in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, under strict conditions. It is for use in people who have only one or no copy of the ApoE4 gene and who have amyloid beta plaques in the brain. It is the first such medicine to be authorised in the EU. The ASI said this “will undeniably offer hope for many people and families affected by Alzheimer’s”.

This follows several years of research, during which Leqembi showed positive results in clinical trials. Leqembi is an antibody that targets the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s disease. People with Alzheimer’s have a sticky toxic build-up of amyloid, a protein, in their brain. By working with the immune system to target and break down amyloid, Leqembi has been shown to slow the progression of the disease.

The ASI said; “this is a critical juncture for the future of dementia care, and it is essential that Ireland now prepares for the swift integration of Leqembi (and next generation of treatments in the clinical pipeline) into our healthcare system, ensuring that those who can avail of this treatment are able to access it as soon as possible”. However, the organisation noted that it is not a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and will only be suitable for a small number of people in the early stages.

Prior to this decision on Leqembi, the AST noted its disappointment when the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) issued a negative opinion on Ely Lilly’s application for donanemab, a drug aimed at slowing Alzheimer’s disease progression. It found that the benefits of treatment were not large enough to outweigh the risks associated with donanemab. Kisunla (Donanemab) is already available in other markets including the United States, United Kingdom, China, and Japan.