TGA lists new treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease in Australia

A new treatment for early to mild Alzheimer’s disease has been registered with Australia’s pharmaceutical regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Australia has become the 50th country to register the drug lecanemab (LEQEMBI) following a clinical trial, which is a major development to provide eligible patients with a new treatment.

The drug helps adult patients with mild cognitive impairment.

More than 400,000 Australians live with dementia, and more than 60 per cent of those have Alzheimer’s disease, which is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative brain disease that impairs cognition, memory and function.

People with mild Alzheimer’s disease suffer subtle changes in memory and thinking.

Professionals with Alzheimer’s chair Cathy Roth welcomed the news.

The community advocate said Alzheimer’s disease had a profound impact on Australians living with the condition, their families and carers.

“These Australians experience stigma, fear, and symptoms that affect their quality of life,” she said.

“Early signs and symptoms of mild cognitive impairment, such as often losing things or forgetting important events, may be seen as a normal part of ageing when they are not.

“Increased early detection, research, and new treatment options for early Alzheimer’s disease are all crucial to give Australians living with this disease, as well as those who sadly may face this diagnosis later in life, new opportunities to manage the progression of the disease.”

Professor Michael Woodward, a geriatrician and dementia expert, said the TGA registration of LEQEMBI was a significant step as it provided a new treatment option for Australians living with early Alzheimer’s disease.

“With more than 812,500 Australians projected to be living with a form of dementia by 2054, there is an urgent need for advances in the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” he said.

“The build-up of toxic amyloid plaques can occur up to 20 years before people may experience symptoms, so early diagnosis creates greater opportunity to reduce the rate of cognitive and functional decline with new advances in treatment options.

“The TGA registration of LEQEMBI for early Alzheimer’s disease is an important development in the way we treat this disease.

“It means we now have another amyloid-lowering therapy we can introduce in the right patients to target the underlying cause of Alzheimer’s disease, taking a more proactive approach to slow the cognitive decline associated with the disease.”

Eisai Australia medical director John Bower said the company is committed to making a meaningful difference to the management and care of people at all stages of Alzheimer’s disease

“Australians living with Alzheimer’s disease deserve to live their lives in whatever way is most meaningful and fulfilling to them,” Dr Bower said.

“The TGA registration of this new medicine provides Australians living with early Alzheimer’s disease with a treatment option.”