Alzheimer’s drugs that target the buildup of the amyloid protein on the brain don’t meaningfully help patients, a major review found, raising questions about medicines developed by the likes of Eli Lilly and Eisai.
Despite successfully removing amyloid from the brain, the drugs don’t improve cognitive function or slow its decline, according to the review of drug trials on patients with mild symptoms due to Alzheimer’s disease. The study — called a Cochrane review and considered the gold-standard of research as it synthesizes evidence from multiple trials — looked at multiple drugs that target amyloid.
Lilly’s Kisunla, and Leqembi developed by Biogen and Eisai, were part of the review, and the only two approved and available in the U.S. to treat Alzheimer’s. Many of the others failed trials and their development was halted.
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