The FDA has approved Bristol Myers Squibb’s Cobenfy, an oral medication for schizophrenia in adults. Analysts predict significant potential for the drug, particularly in treating Alzheimer’s related psychosis, with projected peak sales exceeding $6 billion. However, despite its first-mover advantage, Cobenfy faces competition from AbbVie’s emraclidine, while potential side effects are also noted.
Cassava Sciences, its founder, and former executives have agreed to pay over $40 million to settle SEC charges alleging they misled investors about the results of a Phase 2 trial for their Alzheimer’s drug, simufilam. The SEC found that the company manipulated trial data to falsely suggest the drug’s effectiveness. The settlement includes penalties and bans on serving as officers or directors for certain individuals.
Cassava Sciences has announced that its Alzheimer’s drug candidate, simufilam, has successfully passed an interim safety review, allowing its ongoing Phase 3 trials to continue without changes. The Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) reviewed patient safety data from the trials and recommended no modifications. Simufilam is a novel oral drug designed to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The two Phase 3 trials, fully enrolled with over 1,900 patients, are expected to yield top-line results by the end of 2024 and mid-2025.
Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder, is on the rise, with cases expected to double by 2060. This alarming trend necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the disease, its impact, and advancements in treatment and prevention. This article delves into the growing burden of Alzheimer’s, its mortality rate, and discusses the latest research and management strategies, including medication, lifestyle changes, and supportive care.
Alzheimer’s disease, a debilitating brain disorder, can be influenced by lifestyle factors. This article outlines key lifestyle choices that can either increase or decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, including physical activity, diet, social engagement, cognitive stimulation, sleep, stress management, smoking, alcohol consumption, and head trauma.
England cricketer Alice Davidson-Richards opens up about her experience caring for her father who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. She discusses the challenges, the emotional toll, and the importance of raising awareness and funding for research.
This heartfelt personal essay details the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia. It recounts the author’s experience with her grandmother, navigating the emotional rollercoaster of her decline, and ultimately making the difficult but necessary decision to place her in a care home. The author also shares her mother’s subsequent breast cancer diagnosis, highlighting the importance of self-care and recognizing when you need help.
Athira Pharma’s experimental Alzheimer’s drug, fosgonimeton, failed to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in cognition and function in a Phase 2/3 clinical trial. While the drug showed promising trends in certain patient subgroups, the overall results fell short of expectations, leading to a substantial drop in the company’s stock price.
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is expected to follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in rejecting Eli Lilly’s donanemab, a potential Alzheimer’s treatment, due to safety concerns, high costs, and a precedent set by the rejection of Biogen’s Leqembi. While donanemab showed promising results in slowing cognitive decline, the risks of brain bleeds and swelling, occurring at a higher rate than with Leqembi, are major concerns. The projected cost of donanemab, estimated to be 25% higher than Leqembi, adds to the concerns, with NICE already citing cost as a primary factor in its rejection of Leqembi.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved Leqembi, an Alzheimer’s drug developed by Eisai and Biogen, for treating early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has declined to recommend the drug for use on the NHS due to its high cost and limited benefits.
