Alzheimer¡¯s drugs that target the buildup of the amyloid protein on the brain don¡¯t meaningfully help patients, a major review found, raising questions about medicines developed by the likes of Eli Lilly and Eisai.
Despite successfully removing amyloid from the brain, the drugs don¡¯t improve cognitive function or slow its decline, according to the review of drug trials on patients with mild symptoms due to Alzheimer¡¯s disease. The study ¡ª called a Cochrane review and considered the gold-standard of research as it synthesizes evidence from multiple trials ¡ª looked at multiple drugs that target amyloid.
Lilly¡¯s Kisunla, and Leqembi developed by Biogen and Eisai, were part of the review, and the only two approved and available in the U.S. to treat Alzheimer¡¯s. Many of the others failed trials and their development was halted.
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