U.S. officials have approved a drug for Alzheimer’s disease that can modestly slow the disease’s progression, offering a new option for patients in the early stages of the incurable and memory-destroying illness.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Eli Lilly’s drug “Qysonla” on Tuesday for treating mild or early cases of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
“Qysonla” is only the second drug convincingly shown to delay cognitive decline in patients, following last year’s approval of a similar drug from the Japanese pharmaceutical company “Eisai.” The delay seen with both drugs amounts to a few months.
Patients and their families will need to weigh these benefits against the downsides, including regular intravenous infusions and potential serious side effects such as brain swelling.
Doctors who treat Alzheimer’s disease say the FDA’s approval of the new drug is an important step after decades of failed experimental treatments.
