Launched in the last 2 years, the drugs are the first new drugs for dementia for a long time and they have been shown in clinical trials to slow the rate of cognitive decline by around four to six months.
The drugs are licensed in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use in patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and who have only one or no copies of the ApoE4 gene.
Reflecting on the news, Professor John Gallacher, Director of Dementias Platform UK said:
"The NICE decision not to approve NHS funding of the novel therapies for dementia will be disappointing for many. It demonstrates the fine balance that exists between the potential value of novel medications and the limited resource environment that the NHS exists in. Despite the decision, the introduction of the novel medications and MHRA and FDA approval has reinvigorated the field by showing that the core pathology of Alzheimer's disease can be changed by medical interventions. While we recognise the complexities of safety, efficacy and cost, it is unfortunate that future access to these new treatments will be limited to private sector providers in the UK. We remain committed to dementia research and furthering the options available for its treatment on the NHS, with our industry partners and via our ongoing work."
Had the drugs been approved, it is estimated around 70,000 would have been eligible for the novel treatments.
Lecanemab removes build-ups of the protein beta-amyloid from the brain, whilst Donanemab teaches the body’s immune cells to recognise and remove amyloid proteins which accumulate in the brain. of people who have Alzheimer’s Disease.