Hopes of a an Alzheimer’s treatment revolution have been dashed for millions of people after the medicines watchdog ruled a breakthrough drug was too expensive for use on the NHS. Lecanemab is the world’s first drug proven to slow the disease’s progression, with trials showing it slowed cognitive decline by 27 percent over 18 months. It was this morning given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which decides whether medicines are safe for use.
But within minutes, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence announced it would not recommend its use on the NHS as the benefits are “too small to justify the costs”. The decision means millions of patients are set to be denied the drug in the coming years, while those able to pay can access it privately. David Thomas, head of policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the drug would likely be out of reach for “all but the very most wealthy of individuals”.
He added: “We believe that if there’s a licensed drug that is safe and effective, judged by the regulator, then that needs to be available to NHS patients, and not just whose with the ability to pay.” The charity’s chief executive Hilary Evans-Newton described the decision as “deeply disappointing”, adding: “Today’s news is bittersweet for people affected by Alzheimer’s disease. “It’s a remarkable achievement that science is now delivering licensed treatments that can slow down the devastat.