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The Alzheimer's drug LEQEMBI is seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on January 20, 2023. Eisai/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBOSTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - An injected version of Eisai (4523.T) and Biogen's (BIIB.O) Alzheimer's drug Leqembi works as well as the current intravenous version at removing toxic brain plaques, according to an analysis presented by Eisai on Wednesday. The Japanese drugmaker's review compared data for 72 patients with early Alzheimer's given Leqembi by subcutaneous injection to prior pivotal trial results from 898 patients who received the drug by infusion. Blood concentration levels of the drug were 11% higher with subcutaneous Leqembi than the IV version. Roll-out of IV Leqembi, which has an annual list price of $26,500, has been slow.

Persons: Eisai, Leqembi, ”, Eric Reiman, Priya Singhal, Biogen, Michael Irizarry, Alzheimer's, Julie Steenhuysen, Deena Beasley, Bill Berkrot, Leslie Adler Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Banner Alzheimer's Institute, ARIA, Thomson Locations: Handout, Boston, Los Angeles

☆ Blood tests needed for widespread Alzheimer's diagnosis on the way
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Deena Beasley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Several Alzheimer's blood tests are in the works – and one is already being sold to consumers – but none have been established as accurate, formally approved by regulators or reimbursed by insurers. Researchers have been working for years on blood tests for Alzheimer's that can replicate these diagnostic tools. The need for blood tests has become more pressing since the FDA approved Leqembi in July. Accurate blood tests are expected to help identify which dementia patients actually have Alzheimer’s, the most common but not the only cause of dementia. "When there are widely available, scalable, sensitive and specific blood tests it will be an absolute game changer for Alzheimer's patients."

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Eli Lilly, Dr, Sarah Kremen, Eliezer Masliah, Eisai, Michael Irizarry, Roche, Bruce Jordan, Russ Paulsen, Deena Beasley, Caroline Humer, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Memory Centre, of Readaptation, University Hospital, REUTERS, FDA, Sinai Medical Center, Wednesday, Quest Diagnostics, National Institute, Aging, U.S . National Institutes of Health, C2N Diagnostics, Roche Diagnostics, Alzheimer's Association, RAND, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, Leqembi, Eisai, Los Angeles, U.S

☆ New Alzheimer’s drug shows promise in slowing disease but may contain significant risks, study shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

An experimental Alzheimer’s drug modestly slowed the brain disease’s inevitable worsening, researchers reported Tuesday — but it remains unclear how much difference that might make in people’s lives. Now the companies are providing full results of the study of nearly 1,800 people in the earliest stages of the mind-robbing disease. Also, lecanemab recipients were 31% less likely to advance to the next stage of the disease during the study. The trial is important because it shows a drug that attacks a sticky protein called amyloid — considered one of several culprits behind Alzheimer’s — can delay disease progression, said Maria Carrillo, chief science officer for the Alzheimer’s Association. Eisai said Tuesday the deaths can’t be attributed to the Alzheimer’s drug.

☆ Experimental Alzheimer's drug: After promising data, experts say many questions remain
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —The experimental Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab made big news last week when the companies testing it released trial results that showed the drug met its goals, making it one of the first dementia drugs to return positive results. By some counts, lecanemab is the 16th drug that’s been developed to clear toxic amyloid plaques from the brain. Or did the companies that are testing it – Biogen and Eisai – run a smarter clinical trial that finally showcased the potential of these kinds of medications? Clinical trial results were mixed, with only one showing a small benefit to patients. He says he might change his mind if analysis of the clinical trial shows that one group of people got more of a benefit than others.

Globally, the figure could reach 139 million by 2050 without an effective treatment, Alzheimer's Disease International said. Aduhelm was the first new Alzheimer's drug approved in 20 years after a long list of high-profile failures for the industry. read morePatient advocacy groups hailed the news of positive lecanemab trial results. Micro hemorrhages in the brain occurred at a rate of 17% in the lecanemab group, and 8.7% in the placebo group. Aduhelm's approval was a rare bright spot for Alzheimer's patients, but critics have called for more evidence that amyloid-targeting drugs are worth the cost.

☆ Biogen's latest clinical trial is inching towards the finish line. Here's why analysts say the results could disrupt the future of Alzheimer's care.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Yeji Jesse Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

It's a complicated, debilitating illness and drug companies have struggled for years to come up with viable treatments. Other big drug companies such as Roche Holdings and Eli Lilly are pursuing similar treatments, with results expected to come later this year and early next year, respectively. "I think people's confidence in the amyloid hypothesis would go down even further, but ultimately people would wait to see what those other data events show," he said. Negative results might give a boost to companies that are exploring alternate ways to treat Alzheimer's disease. And though Biogen's drug is furthest along in development, it's far from being the only treatment being tested for Alzheimer's.

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