New research presented at the Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference in San Diego suggests that the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab, licensed in the UK but not available on the NHS, can slow disease progression by more than eight years. Lecanemab, also known as Leqembi and developed by Eisai, was declined by the NHS after the spending watchdog judged the benefits “too small” to justify its high cost.
The study examined real-world data comparing patients treated with lecanemab from an early stage of Alzheimer’s with those who did not receive the treatment. Results revealed that long-term use of lecanemab delayed progression from mild cognitive impairment to moderate Alzheimer’s disease by 8.3 years among patients with low amyloid protein levels in their brains.
Researchers also reported progress in developing an injectable version of the drug, which could potentially replace the current intravenous delivery method, making treatment simpler and more accessible.
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Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, described the findings as promising. He emphasized that earlier treatment could yield more substantial benefits and highlighted the potential accessibility improvements with an injectable option. Oakley also noted that clarifying what slowing progression means for patients’ daily lives—including maintaining independence—remains critical.
Despite these promising outcomes, lecanemab is not currently offered on the NHS. Oakley called on the UK Government to enhance dementia diagnosis rates and prepare the NHS for forthcoming treatments, citing that over 130 Alzheimer’s drugs are under clinical trial. He stressed the urgency of diagnosing dementia early, especially as more than a third of people living with dementia in the UK remain undiagnosed.
Lecanemab and donanemab, another antibody drug approved for UK use but not for the NHS, target amyloid protein build-up in the brain. By binding and helping to clear amyloid plaques, both drugs aim to slow cognitive decline at the disease’s early stages—an advancement beyond treatments that solely manage symptoms.
However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in its June guidance, stated these drugs delayed disease progression by only four to six months and concluded they were not cost-effective. The NHS estimates the annual expense of providing these drugs could range from £500 million to £1 billion.
Alzheimer’s disease remains the most prevalent form of dementia, with projections indicating that one in three people born in the UK today may develop dementia during their lifetime. By 2040, an estimated 1.4 million people in the UK could be living with the condition.