New study on drug 'Lecanemab' shows promise for Alzheimer's disease treatment
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- An ongoing study is showing promise in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.
Drugmaker Eisai Co. is conducting a study called CLARITY AD, testing the anti-amyloid drug Lecanemab.
The drug is meant to stop amyloid growth - a plaque on the brain that is potentially responsible for the disease.
The CLARITY AD study tracked roughly 1,800 people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
Early results released Tuesday show Lecanemab treatment reduced cognitive decline by 27% after 18 months, compared to a placebo.
"The medicine goes in and clears out that amyloid in hopes of stabilizing that nerve damage and memory loss, and helping people to maintain their function," explained Dr. Cynthia Carlsson with UW Health.
The phase III study shows the first time any drug has noticeably altered the disease's progression in early-stage patients.
"The initial results are positive, they look safe, promising, there's good representation. I think it's really encouraging," Dr. Carlsson said.
The study by drugmaker Eisai specifically looks at patients already experiencing Alzheimer's symptoms.
In Wisconsin, UW Health is studying non-symptomatic subjects with amyloid plaque.
They're also using Lecanemab in their study, called AHEAD, which has been in progress since last year.
"These are people who have the earliest changes of Alzheimer's in their brain but no symptoms yet. So the goal is to get that medicine in there, clear out that amyloid before it causes damage to the brain," Dr. Carlsson said.
Dr. Carlsson is leading the AHEAD study. She told CBS 58 she is pleased to similar studies with groundbreaking outcomes, such as CLARITY AD.
"The potential to stop the disease, really drastically slow its prevention, get at the root cause, and really hopefully prevent the disease is a real breakthrough," Dr. Carlsson said.
UW Health is still looking for volunteers 55 and older to take part in their AHEAD study.
Lecanemab's drugmaker is expected to apply for regulatory approval by the end of the year.