‘Encouraging’ Alzheimer’s drug awaits approval

A biotechnology company announced in October that it would seek federal approval for a medicine to treat early Alzheimer’s, a step hailed by the Alzheimer’s Association as a potentially important landmark in treatment of the most common form of dementia.

In March, Biogen announced it would discontinue its clinical trials for the medicine, called Aducanumab, after determining the drug wasn’t likely to produce a meaningful benefit. But later analysis, including an additional three months of data, will be submitted to the Federal Drug Administration after finding a reduction of cognitive and functional decline in people taking high doses.

While the drug is under review by the FDA for possible approval, Biogen plans to offer it to eligible participants previously enrolled in the company’s studies.

The Alzheimer’s Association, in a formal statement, said that for the 5 million Americans and their families living with Alzheimer’s, the Biogen development is “encouraging.”

“No stone can be left unturned,” the association stated. “We must advance all potential treatment avenues and also explore methods for combining these approaches.  Alzheimer’s and other dementias are complex, and their effective treatment and prevention will likely also be a complex — but achievable — task. All currently pursued treatments that are considered safe should be continued to determine their efficacy.”