The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has rejected a new drug that slows Alzheimer's, saying that its benefits ‘are too small to justify the cost’ to the NHS.
The decision comes despite the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approving lecanemab, which was found to slow cognitive decline by about a quarter in patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
Dr Samantha Roberts, the chief executive of NICE, said that while this new drug has potential, it has ‘significant costs’ to the NHS.
She said: ‘It is an intensive treatment to give to patients involving a hospital visit every two weeks with skilled staff needed to monitor them for signs of serious side-effects, plus the cost of purchasing the drug. Our independent committee has rigorously evaluated the available evidence, including the benefit for carers, but Nice must only recommend treatments that offer good value to the taxpayer.’
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Lecanemab, which is given twice a month, removes sticky clumps of protein amyloid beta from the brain, which is found to cause the disease. According to NICE, in clinical trials, the drug slowed cognitive decline by 27% in early Alzheimer’s patients, compared with a placebo, but it said there was little evidence of its long-term effects.
Last month, the EU’s drugs regulator also rejected the drug, saying the risk of serious brain swelling did not outweigh its small impact on slowing cognitive decline.
However, this decision means that only a small number of patients who can access the drug privately would benefit from it. Hilary Evans-Newton, the chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, called this a ‘bittersweet’ moment for those affected by Alzheimer's disease.
‘It’s a remarkable achievement that science is now delivering licensed treatments that can slow down the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s, rather than just alleviating its symptoms. However, it’s clear our health system isn’t ready to embrace this new wave of Alzheimer’s drugs.’
NHS England said a dedicated team was looking at the effects of lecanemab and 27 other Alzheimer's drugs currently in advanced trials. A final decision by NICE will come towards the end of the year following a public consultation.