A new experimental medicine which slows the progression of his disease Alzheimer’s – as proven in clinical trials – approved by the Food and Drug Administration USA (FDA).

Eli Lilly’s formulation will be sold under the trade name “kisunla” and, according to the company, the price of the drug is $700 per vial. The total cost of a 12-month treatment is $32,000.

The new drug, given intravenously every four weeks, targets amyloid protein deposits in the brain, a key marker of Alzheimer’s.

kisunla is the second drug to receive FDA approval to treat Alzheimer’s patients.

Last year, the US agency approved the drug lecanemab, marketed under the brand name leqembi, which also appears to slow the progression of the disease.

How effective it is – Unwanted side effects

“kisunla has shown significant results in people with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, who urgently need effective treatment options,” said Anne White, executive vice president of Eli Lilly.

According to the company, it slowed cognitive and functional decline by up to 35% after 18 months, compared to patients who received only a placebo.

The FDA noted, however, that the drug also has side effects that include possible swelling or bleeding in the brain.

Although most cases were mild or asymptomatic, about 2% were severe. Although three deaths were linked to the drug, ultimately the FDA, which delayed approval in March for further evaluation, decided the benefits outweighed the risks.

“Diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s earlier than we do today has the potential to substantially slow the progression of the disease, giving patients invaluable time to maintain their independence for longer,” said Dr. Howard Fillitt, co-founder and chief science officer at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.

With information from Guardian – ERT