New drug slows down decline of patients with Alzheimer's disease

Two pharmaceutical companies are developing a drug that can slow down the decline of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Called Lecanemab, the drug can remove deposits of amyloid beta in the brain, which causes the proteins to clump together that leads to memory loss.

It is produced by Biogen and the Japan-based Eisai Co. Ltd.

"The amyloid plaques begin building up 15 to 20 years before the memory loss, and then later the tangles start occurring, and the nerve cells get smaller," said Dr. Stephen Salloway of Brown University.

"It makes to try to intervene early and reduce the plaques," he added. "If there's enough amyloid removal, then there can be clinical benefits."

Eisai is seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration for Lecanemab in the hopes of marketing the drug in the United States, Europe and Japan next year.

Around 55 million people worldwide are suffering from Alzheimer's, which is yet to have a cure.

—MGP, GMA News