FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug, bringing thousands of Nebraskans ‘a lot of hope’

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a drug that helps slow down Alzheimer’s Disease.

Now, some of the 36,000 Nebraskans living with Alzheimer’s will be eligible for a drug that could change their life.

“This has really been the first very good treatment that’s become available,” said Nick Faustman with the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter. “We use the term hope, and that’s not one I take lightly. This provides a lot of people a lot of hope.”

Trial results showed that the drug Lecanemab – more commonly called Leqembi – slowed the progression of the disease for those with early-onset symptoms.

“It’s a big deal for these people because it will allow them to essentially have more time with their loved ones,” Faustman said.

The drug is only intended for people diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

It’s designed to attack a protein that makes plaque.

In Alzheimer’s patients, that plaque builds up and causes their cells to die.

Leqembi is not a cure, but it has been proven to slow the speed of the disease by about 27%.

Faustman said the main goal is to add to the quality of life for patients, giving them more time before the disease becomes too severe.

People who meet the qualifications would receive an IV infusion once every two weeks.

It’s an expensive treatment.

“People who were seeking this treatment would have paid for it out of pocket, and it’s extremely costly, as you can imagine,” Faustman said. “It’s something like $26,000 per year.”

Now, since it’s FDA-approved, Medicare will cover the cost, making it much more accessible to those who want to use it.

The treatment does have serious side effects, including brain bleeding and swelling.

Faustman said this could be a major breakthrough for the future of the disease.

“This drug is just one of many different approaches that are just now being researched and studied in the scientific field,” he said. “It’s an exciting time to be involved with Alzheimer’s because, like I said, more of these treatments, more of these drugs, more of these studies are coming down the pike.”