Lecanemab Drug Latest News
Recently, Australia approved Lecanemab drug for early Alzheimer’s diseases.
About Lecanemab Drug
- It is a monoclonal antibody drug to treat early stages of Alzheimer’s.
- It is designed to slow early Alzheimer's progression by targeting amyloid proteins in the brain.
- It was developed to tackle the causes of Alzheimer’s disease rather than only relieving the symptoms.
Working of Lecanemab Drug
- It uses antibodies to recognise amyloid in the brain and works with the brain’s immune cells to clear amyloid protein build-up from the brains of people living with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
- These amyloid protein build-ups are thought to be toxic to brain cells, causing them to get sick and eventually die, leading to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.Â
- Lecanemab is given to patients intravenously, which means into a vein through a drip bag.
- Recent clinical trials show a 27 per cent reduction in disease progression.
- Issues with : High cost and potential side effects, including brain swelling, limit its accessibility and raise safety concerns.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
- Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.
- It is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.
- Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
- It involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
- The condition usually affects people aged 65 years and over, with only 10% of cases occurring in people younger than this
Source: DTE
Lecanemab Drug FAQ's
Q1: What is the mechanism of action of Lecanemab?
Ans: Lecanemab targets beta-amyloid, a protein deposition seen in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and disrupts cell function
Q2: What is Alzheimer's disease?
Ans: A progressive neurologic disorder causing brain atrophy and cell death.
