How safe is the new Alzheimer’s drug?
Researchers studied patients treated with lecanemab, a new therapy designed to remove a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease from the brain.
A recent study at Duke Health has shed new light on the safety of lecanemab, a newly approved Alzheimer's drug. Researchers examined over 230 patients treated with lecanemab and found that most patients could remain on the medication for at least a year. Side effects, particularly brain swelling or bleeding (Amyloid Related Imaging Abnormalities, or ARIA), were generally manageable and resolved over time without additional medications or hospitalizations.
About 79% of patients continued the treatment, while 21% discontinued due to adverse events. High-risk patients with the APOE ε4 gene were more likely to develop ARIA. Two peaks of ARIA events were observed around 10 and 25 weeks after starting therapy. Serious adverse events, such as infusion reactions, falls, or strokes, occurred in about 31% of patients, though not all were directly linked to the drug.
Notably, seven clinical, blood, and imaging tests were insufficient in predicting ARIA development. The study suggests the need for better tests to predict serious ARIA and to determine when it's safe to resume treatment. Despite not curing Alzheimer's disease, slowing its progression can help patients maintain independence and engage in daily life longer.
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