Charity warns NHS not ready for new Alzheimer’s drugs

Charity Alzheimer’s Research UK has warned that patients could lose out on two groundbreaking new drugs because the NHS is unprepared.

Lecanemab and donanemab slow down the early stages of the disease, but the charity says the NHS is not ready to roll out the drugs, which could be licensed this year.

The treatments would then be subject to an assessment of cost and benefits before they are made widely available.

The drugs represent a step forward because they target one of the causes of the disease, rather than treating the symptoms.  Their effectiveness, however, depends on early diagnosis – and very few people have the specialist scans or investigations which would be needed.

In global trials involving hundreds of early-stage Alzheimer’s patients, the drugs were shown to slow cognitive decline by between a quarter and a third over 18 months.

Consultant neurologist Dr Cath Mummery, who is head of clinical trials at the Dementia Research Centre at University College London, says this would make a meaningful, if small, difference to individual patients.  “Over 18 months, that gives you about five months at a higher function.”

A briefing paper for NHS England estimates that between 50,000 and 280,000 patients may be eligible for the new treatments if NICE recommends that the drugs are used by the health service.  The cost of the drugs and administering the treatment, would be between £500m and £1bn per year.

Chadwick Lawrence’s Legal 500 recommended West Yorkshire medical negligence solicitors, have over 20 years of experience and specialist expertise in medical negligence investigations and claims, supporting injured clients and their families through the legal process and helping them obtain answers, justice and compensation after life-changing events.  We have offices in Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Leeds, Bradford and Morley and represent clients locally and nationally.

If you or a relative have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence lawyers on the freephone number below or e-mail us.

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Freephone : 0800 304 7382