New research presented at a major dementia conference indicates that an Alzheimer's treatment, currently deemed too costly for the NHS, could potentially slow the progression of the disease by more than eight years for some patients.
Real-World Data Shows Greater Promise
Findings unveiled at the Clinical Trials in Alzheimer's Disease conference in San Diego suggest the impact of the drug lecanemab, also known as Leqembi, could be far more significant than initial clinical trials indicated. While the drug is licensed for use in the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) rejected it for NHS funding in June, concluding its benefits were 'too small' to justify the cost.
The new study compared individuals who started treatment at an early stage of the disease with those who were untreated. Researchers found that long-term use of lecanemab could delay disease progression from mild cognitive impairment to moderate Alzheimer's by 8.3 years for a specific group: patients with low levels of amyloid protein in the brain who began treatment early.
Calls for NHS Pilots and Improved Diagnosis
The data has prompted urgent calls from leading charities for the UK government to establish dedicated NHS pilots for the drug. This would allow patients who cannot afford private treatment to access it while generating more real-world evidence on its benefits.
Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer's Society, commented on the findings. 'This new data on lecanemab's real world use outside of clinical trials is promising,' he said. 'It indicates treating people earlier could provide more benefit.' He emphasised that breakthroughs will only make a difference if people are diagnosed early and accurately, noting that around one third of the estimated one million people living with dementia in the UK do not yet have a diagnosis.
David Thomas, head of policy at Alzheimer's Research UK, stated: 'People with dementia in the UK should not be missing out. The Government can make a difference here and now by establishing dedicated pilots for these drugs in the NHS.'
Future Treatment and Cost Considerations
Conference data also revealed that a more affordable and convenient injectable version of lecanemab is in development, which could one day replace the current method of administration via an intravenous drip. This could make future treatment simpler and more accessible.
Lecanemab, along with another recently approved drug called donanemab, represents a significant shift in Alzheimer's treatment. They are targeted antibody drugs designed to clear amyloid protein build-up in the brain, a known cause of the disease, rather than merely managing symptoms.
However, Nice's final guidance stated the drugs were shown to delay progression by only four to six months, providing 'modest benefits at best' and not representing good value for money for the health service. NHS England has estimated that providing these treatments could cost between £500 million and £1 billion per year.
With Alzheimer's disease being the most common form of dementia and one in three people born in the UK today projected to develop dementia in their lifetime, the pressure for accessible treatments is immense. Dr Oakley concluded: 'While lecanemab is not currently available on the NHS, hope is on the horizon with over 130 Alzheimer's disease drugs in clinical trials.'
