For the first time in 25 years, a new Alzheimer’s treatment has been approved in Australia.
The drug, donanemab, sold as Kisunla, promises to slow the disease’s progression.
It works by targeting harmful amyloid proteins in the brain, believed to play a key role in Alzheimer’s.
The treatment involves monthly infusions over an 18-month period.
Early data shows the drug can slow the rate of decline by around one-third. It’s a major scientific leap – but it won’t help everyone.
Only a small fraction of patients will qualify
Despite the breakthrough, experts say less than 20 % of dementia patients will be eligible.
It’s because the treatment only is approved for people in the very early stages of the disease.
And that’s not the only hurdle. Patients must have a specific genetic profile, and those with two copies of the ApoE ε4 gene are excluded due to severe side effects like brain swelling and bleeding.
Patients must also undergo costly PET scans or spinal taps to confirm amyloid buildup. Plus, MRI monitoring is required before and during treatment.
All of these conditions rule out the vast majority of those affected.
No public coverage
Here’s where the next shock comes in: the cost. Without government subsidy, the full course of treatment could exceed $80,000 AUD.
The drug alone is expected to cost $40,000. Add specialists, scans, and infusion fees, and the bill skyrockets.
Currently, Australia’s public health system won’t cover any of it. Eli Lilly has applied for subsidy approval, but a decision won’t come until July.
Health Minister Mark Butler calls the development exciting, but says tio The Guardian “there is still a fair way to go”.
Meanwhile, families must weigh the risks, the cost – and a potential gain of just a few years before severe dementia sets in.
This article is based on information from The Guardian.