US FDA approves Alzheimer's drug Leqembi
LOS ANGELES, US - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday fully approved the Alzheimer's treatment Leqembi, the first drug shown to slow down Alzheimer's disease, reported Xinhua.
Leqembi is the first amyloid beta-directed antibody to be converted from an accelerated approval to a traditional approval for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, according to the FDA.
The drug works by reducing amyloid plaques that form in the brain, a defining pathophysiological feature of the disease.
"Today's action is the first verification that a drug targetting the underlying disease process of Alzheimer's disease has shown clinical benefit in this devastating disease," said Teresa Buracchio, acting director of the Office of Neuroscience in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
"This confirmatory study verified that it is a safe and effective treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease," Buracchio said.
Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder affecting more than 6.5 million Americans. - BERNAMA-XINHUA
