Recent research from the University of Georgia raises doubts about the real-world benefits of Leqembi, the first drug fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to slow Alzheimer’s progression. Despite its Medicare coverage and accessibility to Americans in early disease stages, experts question its true value.
The study, led by Mark Ebell from UGA, reviewed 19 publications involving over 23,000 participants, including studies on Leqembi.
Published in The Annals of Family Medicine, the paper titled “Clinically Important Benefits and Harms of Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Amyloid for Treatment of Alzheimer Disease: A systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” focuses on tangible outcomes for patients and caregivers.
Ebell, a physician and professor at UGA’s College of Public Health, highlighted the minimal differences observed in function and cognition between treated and untreated patients, even after 18 to 24 months of treatment.
He noted that for a change to be noticeable, it would need to be much more significant than what the studies reported.
The team evaluated the drugs’ impact on memory and daily life skills and the reported side effects. While some improvements in cognitive function were statistically significant, none were clinically meaningful in terms of memory or behaviors.
Considering the high cost, time commitment, and potential side effects like brain swelling and bleeds, the study suggests that Leqembi might not offer enough benefit for most patients. This revelation is crucial as doctors and patients consider this new treatment option.
Ebell stresses the importance of balancing potential benefits against risks, emphasizing that the decision to use such treatments is not straightforward.
This research urges a careful reconsideration of Leqembi’s role in Alzheimer’s treatment, highlighting the need for patient and caregiver awareness in making informed healthcare choices.
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The research findings can be found in The Annals of Family Medicine.
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