HSMA clinic set to begin treatment of Alzheimer’s using lecanemab, a ground-breaking medication that targets the underlying disease process
Re:Cognition Health, the HSMA cognitive healthcare clinic, is set to make available a ground-breaking new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Lecanemab, marketed under the brand name Leqembi, is a drug that treats Alzheimer’s by removing toxic amyloid protein from the brain. A hallmark of the disease, this toxic protein destroys brain cells, especially those required for memory and related cognitive functions. Following its approval by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Leqembi will be available at the clinic from October 2024. Patients will require a diagnosis and receive a full consultation to determine eligibility for the treatment, which requires fortnightly infusions.
Dr Emer MacSweeney, CEO of Re:Cognition Health, commented: “The approval of lecanemab by the MHRA is a significant turning point in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This new treatment is the first in a promising new era of targeted disease-modifying medications, designed to treat the underlying Alzheimer’s disease process. Removing toxic amyloid protein has shown the potential to slow cognitive decline, enabling patients to maintain their independence and quality of life for longer. This is more than just a clinical breakthrough; it's a significant advance in the journey toward making Alzheimer’s a treatable and ultimately preventable condition.”
This approval marks an historic achievement in Alzheimer’s research, building on the success of the Clarity global clinical trial, for which Dr MacSweeney was principal investigator. The trial involved 1,795 volunteers in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, who received fortnightly infusions of lecanemab, which was developed by pharmaceutical companies Eisai and Biogen. The results demonstrated a 27% reduction in the rate of progressive cognitive decline for those on the drug compared to those on a placebo, over an 18-month period.
Leqembi has been in clinical trials for many years at Re:Cognition Health, providing its clinical team with more experience than any other provider in the UK in treating patients with this medication. Re:Cognition Health has delivered over 2033 Leqembi treatments and over 9,000 intravenous treatments in the same medication class as lecanemab.
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