A new drug that slows down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is too expensive for little benefit to the NHS, the medicines spending watchdog says.

Donanemab was seen last year as a turning point in the disease.

But the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said the drug provided only a small benefit to patients.

And this came at a huge cost, including the price of the drug and monitoring for significant side effects, including brain swelling and bleeding in the brain.

People do not get better on donanemab. It is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but it does slow the progression of the disease.

It works by clearing sticky proteins – called amyloid – from the brain, which is one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Donanemab was one of a pair of drugs generating huge excitement because they were the first to show that they could slow Alzheimer’s.

donanemab It was first licensed for use in the UK, meaning it can be prescribed privately.

However, NICE has ruled that this would not be a good use of taxpayers’ money and that it is five to six times more expensive than what is normally considered acceptable by the NHS.

The health spending body said donanemab slowed cognitive decline by four to seven months in trials. This allows people to live independently at home for longer periods of time.

Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said, “This is not enough benefit to justify the additional cost to the NHS.”

“I know this will be disappointing news, but this is an emerging area of ​​medicine and other treatments are being developed.”

It is estimated that around 70,000 adults in England will be eligible for treatment with donanemab. Wales and Northern Ireland also commonly adopt NICE decisions.

The decision to reject the drug was taken despite consideration of potential savings to the NHS and social care.

The medicine is not free from danger.

Brain swelling was a common side effect in one-third of patients. Donanemab in trial, For most, it resolves without causing symptoms. However, dangerous swelling in the brain resulted in the death of two volunteers and possibly a third.

This means that people need genetic testing before they are given the medicine and regular monitoring while they are given donanemab.,

Another drug to slow Alzheimer’s – lecanumab – found too expensive summer nhs,

Professor Fiona Carragher of the Alzheimer’s Society said the drugs offered a “new horizon of hope in the fight against dementia”.

He described the decision as “disappointing” but said the organization respects the decision to defund the NHS.

Professor Tara Spiers-Jones, chair of the British Neuroscience Association, said: “While people with dementia and their loved ones will undoubtedly be disappointed by the decision not to fund this new treatment on the NHS, the good news is that new treatments are possible. Can.” Slow disease is also promising in small amounts.”