Health Canada has given the green light to a medication proven to decelerate the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease. Lecanemab, the first drug of its kind endorsed in Canada, targets the accumulation of amyloid plaque in the brain, a suspected root cause of Alzheimer’s. This lab-manufactured antibody attaches to amyloid proteins, aiding in their neutralization and elimination from the brain. The administration of Lecanemab is recommended during the initial stages of dementia characterized by mild cognitive impairment.
Adam Morrison, a representative from the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, expressed the anticipation among patients and families for the approval of Lecanemab, also known by the brand name Leqembi, in Canada. Alzheimer associations are advocating for swift introduction and public funding of the drug by Canada’s Drug Agency and provincial governments to ensure affordability for all eligible patients, as it costs approximately $26,000 US annually in other nations. Lecanemab, requiring intravenous administration biweekly, functions as a treatment rather than a cure.
MRI scans are necessary to monitor potential side effects. Dr. Andrew Frank, a cognitive neurologist and medical director of the Bruyere Memory Program in Ottawa, mentioned that side effects like brain swelling or bleeding, typically detectable on MRI scans without causing symptoms, are associated with the drug. Frank highlighted that while the antibodies interact with amyloid proteins to facilitate clearance, inflammation may occur, leading to brain swelling or bleeding. Symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or lightheadedness can arise, with rare instances involving severe conditions like seizures or stroke-like symptoms.
Lecanemab, cleared in around 50 countries as stated in a release by manufacturer Eisai Co., Ltd., received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023. The drug underwent testing in a global Phase 3 clinical trial, with Eisai planning to continue submitting clinical assessment data from real-world practice participants. Less than one percent of clinical trial participants experienced persistent or potentially permanent side effects post-medication cessation, according to Frank.
Frank emphasized the importance of making such medications accessible to Canadians to allow them, along with their families and physicians, to evaluate the risk-benefit ratio in deciding whether the benefits of disease progression slowdown outweigh the risks of serious side effects.