SA: Reassessment of Alzheimer’s Drug Raises Hope—and Concerns

A pharmaceutical company Biogen is coming forward and admitting that they made a mistake in halting trials of an experimental Alzheimer’s drug, aducanumab, back in March. After data analysis, they found that patients taking the highest dose for the longest period of time did see a difference, but only in one of the two studies they conducted. Some experts are calling for the FDA to approve the drug, considering that disease progression for participants at the highest dose declined 40% slower than those taking a placebo. If this drug does work, it supports the amyloid hypothesis, which proposes that an effective Alzheimer’s treatment depends on reducing the buildup of beta-amyloid protein in the brain. Biogen will be conducting a follow up study and allowing anyone who participated in a previous aducanumab study to have access to the medication.

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