New Drug Approved to Combat Alzheimer's Progression

U.S. health officials have approved a new drug called 'Kisunla' produced by Eli Lilly for the treatment of early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Kisunla, which is used for mild or early dementia caused by Alzheimer's, has been shown to moderately slow the progression of the disease in trials and delay cognitive decline in patients. This new drug, approved on Tuesday, July 2, is the second Alzheimer's-related drug to receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Last year, the drug 'Lecanemab', marketed as 'Lecanby', was also approved after demonstrating a similar reduction in Alzheimer's progression in clinical trials. Both of these drugs are not definitive treatments, but they are the first medications that change the course and speed of disease progression. Can this new discovery help in the earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's? Anne White, Executive Vice President of Eli Lilly, states: 'Kisunla has shown very meaningful results for individuals with early symptoms of Alzheimer's who urgently need effective treatment options.' Kisunla, which is injected every four weeks, targets amyloid protein deposits in the brain and helps the body eliminate excessive amyloid plaque accumulation, thereby slowing a process that may reduce individuals' ability to remember new information, dates, and important appointments. However, Kisunla remains expensive, with each vial costing nearly $700 and a year-long treatment costing about $32,000. Dementia is a chronic and sometimes acute disorder in neurodegenerative processes that worsens over time and is sometimes accompanied by personality changes, disorientation, and memory impairment. The most common type is age-related dementia or Alzheimer's disease. According to the Iranian Dementia and Alzheimer's Association, over 1.5 million people with dementia have been identified in Iran, 65% of whom have Alzheimer's disease. Dementia is the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependence among the elderly worldwide. Researchers estimate that the number of people with dementia globally will rise from 57 million in 2019 to 153 million by 2050.