India’s First Alzheimer’s Therapy Approved

INDIA’S FIRST ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE-MODIFYING THERAPY

Why in the News?

• Drug Launch: Eli Lilly launched donanemab in India under the brand name Lormalzi for Alzheimer’s treatment.
• First Therapy: It is the first Alzheimer’s disease-modifying therapy commercially launched in India for early-stage patients.
• High Cost: The treatment costs around ₹91,688 per dose and requires monthly infusions for nearly 18 months.

Key features of donanemab therapy

• Monoclonal Antibody: Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody therapy targeting amyloid-beta protein plaques in the brain.
• Disease Modification: The drug slows cognitive decline by nearly 30% in early-stage Alzheimer’s patients.
• Administration Method: The medicine is administered through intravenous infusion once every month.
• Target Group: The therapy is suitable only for patients with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia
• Therapeutic Limitation: The treatment can remove plaques but cannot reverse irreversible brain damage already caused.

Alzheimer’s disease: Important facts

• Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting memory, thinking, and behaviour.
• The disease is associated with abnormal accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and tau proteins in the brain.
• Common symptoms include memory loss, confusion, behavioural changes, and impaired decision-making abilities.
• Ageing remains the biggest risk factor, though genetics and lifestyle factors also contribute significantly.
• Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia globally, especially among elderly populations.