Photo of Lilly pharmaceutical building

Experts optimistic about Alzheimer’s drug breakthrough

A new experimental drug for Alzheimer‘s disease has been shown to slow its progression in a large study, providing experts with optimism.

Published: 1 June 2023
  • national
  • 1 June 2023
  • News.com.au

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug, donanemab, has just provided the most convincing evidence yet that it is possible to eliminate amyloid plaques from the brain, thus benefiting Alzheimer’s patients.

In the 18-month trial donanemab met all the goals, slowing Alzheimer’s progression by 35 per cent compared to the placebo.

The study was conducted with 1,182 people in the early stages of Alzheimer‘s disease.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Alzheimer's disease affects up to 1 in 10 Australians over 65 years of age. This goes up to 3 in 10 Australians over 85 years. While Alzheimer's disease becomes more frequent with age it is not a normal part of ageing.

Dementia Australia reports that without a medical breakthrough, the number of people with dementia (which includes Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy body and others) is expected to increase to more than 800,000 by 2058 – they say around 400,000 people live with dementia in 2023, most of them in the community.