Controversial New Alzheimer’s Drug Approved Despite Reservations
Follow via Flickr Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alzmglc/15311519476/in/photolist-pk2xi7-p5zz1T-pn36eW-pk2z4G-pn4Zzt-p5yHLJ-p5yCyQ-p5yy7H-p5yKrY-p5zBtP-pn2YxE-pn4BVM-p5ztkA-pmMonT-p5ziQo-bxQfpz-pmMxTM-p5zXeR-p5zbib-p5zQFk-pn3m45-pk2Tsf-p5zB8E-pn4N6g-4eGjGS-CFX1-pk2JQf-WfWjgu-pk2Lc3-3hQn2G-4kkzZx-6DojR2-51m44-7rJbFK-9YAmBr-fkWSC9-44Aksc-nSqng6-GAH7BD-j1M1Sk-gv1YhP-6Doi7x-3xK9k-6DoitF-dwaKm8-fkWSGw-6DoiYK-6DssxN-MhcFWN-o17RFw
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first new drug for Alzheimer’s disease in 20 years, but some doctors, including one at UAB, warned patients’ families not to expect much from the drug any time soon.
The drug, aducanumab, is expected to help slow the progression of the disease, but not to improve current memory impairments, according to a release from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The university’s Division of Memory Disorders and the Alzheimer’s Disease Center have been involved in clinical trials of aducanumab for the past five years.
“The approval of the first disease-modifying therapy is a milestone for our field and a result of years of intense research. However, it must be understood that [aducanumab] is not expected to restore memory or reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. David Geldmacher, professor of neurology at UAB and clinical core director of the center. “Instead, it is expected to slow the worsening of the disease. [Aducanumab] is likely the beginning of a new era in treating AD, but not the end of the story.”
Geldmacher said it would be some time before the drug is widely available, not all patients will be eligible to receive it, and many patients, especially with advanced disease, are not likely to see improvement from it.
The FDA approved the drug despite opposition from an independent advisory committee and some Alzheimer’s experts who said there was not enough evidence the drug helps patients, according to several news reports, including from the Associated Press.
The FDA did require the drugmaker, Biogen, to conduct another study to determine whether it benefits patients, and it could pull the drug from the market if its effectiveness is not proven.
Editor’s Note: UAB holds WBHM’s broadcast license, but our news and business departments operate independently.
Tributes, not politics, play center stage as Trump hosts the Kennedy Center Honors
President Trump said he was closely involved with picking the honorees, and on Sunday he became the first president to host the Kennedy Center awards ceremony.
Thailand launches airstrikes along border with Cambodia as tensions reignite
Both sides accused the other of breaking a ceasefire that halted fighting earlier this year. Longstanding border disputes erupted into five days of combat in July that killed dozens.
Rafael Ithier, a legend of salsa music, dies at 99
The pianist, composer and arranger spent more than six decades turning El Gran Combo into one of the premier salsa institutions of Latin America and beyond.
Light from satellites will ruin majority of some space telescope images, study says
Astronomers have long been concerned about reflections from satellites showing up in images taken by telescopes and other scientific instruments.
Defense Department is reviewing boat strike video for possible release, Hegseth says
In a speech on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes, saying: "President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests."
Bama, Miami in, Notre Dame out and Indiana No. 1 in College Football Playoff rankings
Nobody paying attention for the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana – yes, Indiana – leading the way into this year's College Football Playoff.
