A new medication for Alzheimer’s was approved by FDA

A new medication called Leqembi was approved on Thursday, by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Leqembi, a medication for Alzheimer's, was fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday despite reservations about its accessibility, cost, and safety. This action represents the first time full regulatory approval has been given to a drug intended to slow the progression of the disease. Other legal medications only address its symptoms.

The Alzheimer's Association estimates that 6.7 million Americans aged 65 and over have Alzheimer's disease, and have been a strong supporter of the drug’s approval, applauding the choice.

Beta-amyloid, a type of protein found in the brain that has long been believed by scientists to be one of the root causes of Alzheimer's disease, is the target of the drug Leqembi from the pharmaceutical companies Eisai in Japan and Biogen in the United States.

In a phase 3 clinical trial, disease progression was slowed by 27% over 18 months in 1,795 individuals who had mild cognitive decline or early-stage disease.

Leqembi is neither a cure nor a treatment for the disease, according to a neurologist in Rochester, Minnesota. However, the approval of Leqembi is important for patients and the healthcare system, according to Philipson, who is currently a professor at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy.

The FDA's independent advisory committee unanimously recommended full approval for Leqembi in June after data from the trial showed it helped patients with Alzheimer's disease.