The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Welcomes Positive Results from Donanemab Trial

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) welcomes the positive results from the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ2 Phase III Clinical Trial of The Alzheimer’s drug Donanemab.

The evidence was presented by American Pharmaceutical Company Eli Lilly representatives at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam this afternoon. The results have also been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This data follows encouraging top-line results issued by Eli Lilly in May of this year.

The ASI welcomes this high-quality data and the positive results from the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ2 Phase III Clinical Trial on the efficacy of the Donanemab antibody in slowing down the progress of Alzheimer’s Disease for people in the early stages. Eli Lilly will file for FDA approval this quarter.

Responding to this development, The ASI Research and Policy Manager, Dr Laura O’Philbin, said:

“The data published this afternoon indicates that Donanemab is another credible treatment option that can alter the course of Alzheimer’s Disease and slow its progression. This is a further scientific leap in the development of treatment options for Alzheimer’s Disease, and that is incredibly heartening. We have entered a new era of drug development, particularly as this news comes just two weeks after the FDA granted full approval to the Lecanemab drug in the United States.

“Here in Ireland, we await decisions from the European Medicines Agency, which is currently assessing the safety and efficacy of Lecanemab. While there are no guarantees, we are hopeful that if approved by regulators, disease-modifying therapies will reach Ireland in the next couple of years. Should this happen, significant work is required to ensure our health system is ready to deliver it, and that work must start now. It would be devastating if we had a safe and effective treatment that our health system could not deliver. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland looks forward to working with the Government, political representatives, clinicians, people with dementia and family carers on this matter.

“It is important to note that these drugs are not cures and are only suitable for some people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. There will be countless people for whom this drug will not be helpful. We must continue to advocate for and resource non-pharmacological interventions and supports for people with all types of dementia and their families.”

There are currently an estimated 64,000 people with dementia in Ireland, and by 2045, that number is anticipated to increase to 150,000.

More information is available HERE.