What you need to know about Aduhelm (Aducanumab) for Alzheimer's disease

Words cannot express the sadness and helplessness we feel when our loved one, perhaps a mother, father, or friend, develops Alzheimer 's disease, which causes memory loss. Doctors and scientists around the world are working hard to find a cure for this disease. As a result of such efforts, the world started talking about the drug Aducanumab , which comes under the brand name Aduhelm. But although there were great hopes for this drug, there was also great controversy. Now the production of this drug has been stopped. So today, let's talk about what this Aduhelm is, how it worked, and why it is no longer available.

Simply put, what is this Aduhelm (Aducanumab)?

Aduhelm is a drug given to patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, that is, those with mild cognitive impairment . It belongs to a special class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies .

Imagine, when Alzheimer's disease develops, a type of protein called amyloid accumulates between the nerve cells in our brain, depositing itself like garbage. We call this amyloid plaques . These plaques damage brain cells and cause them to die. The main function of the Aduhelm drug is to identify the amyloid plaques that accumulate in the brain and help the body remove them.

The drug was approved by the US FDA in a somewhat unusual way, ignoring the recommendations of the agency's own advisory board. As a result, some medical experts questioned the need for more research into the drug's safety and effectiveness.

However, the company that manufactured this drug stopped producing it completely in 2024. We will see why later.

How does this medicine work in the body?

This is a drug that is given once a month through an IV infusion . As we mentioned earlier, one of the main symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of a protein called amyloid-beta in the brain, forming plaques. This causes brain cells to die, which is the main cause of memory loss and behavioral changes.

Scientists thought that by removing plaque in this way, brain cells would stop dying and the further deterioration of memory and thinking skills would be controlled.

Is this medicine really effective? Why is there such a debate about it?

This is the question that many people have. Two major studies were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the Aduhelm drug.

1. First study: This showed that the drug Aduhelm reduced the amount of amyloid plaques in the brain. It also slightly slowed the rate of decline in memory and ability to perform daily tasks in those who took a high dose of the drug. But the drug could not stop or reverse the disease.

2. Second study: This study did not show any benefit to patients. Therefore, this study was stopped midway.

The results of that one study alone were not enough to satisfy the FDA advisory board. But the FDA decided to approve the drug. But at the same time, it gave Biogen, the company that makes the drug, nine years to conduct another study to confirm the drug's effectiveness. This sudden approval caused a lot of controversy, and some large hospital systems decided not to give it to their patients until more information was available about the drug.

Difference between Aducanumab and Lecanemab

There is another drug called Lecanemab (Leqembi) similar to Aducanumab (Aduhelm). It is also a monoclonal antibody. Both of these work by targeting amyloid proteins in the brain. However, there is a slight difference in the way they work. That is, these two drugs work at two different stages in the process of amyloid plaque formation. Lecanemab received FDA approval in 2023. Research has shown that it can slow the progression of the disease by about 20%-30%.

What are the side effects of Aducanumab?

Like any medicine, Aducanumab can cause side effects . Some of these can be serious, so it's important to be aware of them.

The most important thing is that if someone taking this type of medication experiences any unusual symptoms, they should inform their doctor immediately.

So why was this medicine discontinued?

In January 2024, Biogen announced that they would stop manufacturing and selling Aducanumab altogether. Many people thought that this was due to safety concerns or lack of efficacy. But that is not the real reason.

The company explained that this move was made because it decided to focus its resources (money, research teams, etc.) on developing and promoting other Alzheimer's drugs, especially drugs like Lecanemab. That is, this was a business and resource management decision, and not a decision made because of concerns about the drug's safety or efficacy.

With this decision, after November 1, 2024, even patients who have received this drug on prescription will no longer be able to obtain it.