Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine, Head of Internal Medical Sciences Department, Rector's Advisor, NPFUAM Director Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay made evaluations about the drug Aducanumab, developed to prevent the progression of Alzheimer's.
"Should not be perceived as 'a definitive solution has been found'"
The drug developed to prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease, one of the most important health problems awaiting a solution worldwide, caused a great stir. Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay stated that the drug "Aducanumab," approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), could open a new chapter in Alzheimer's treatment. Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay said, "Patients and their relatives should not perceive this development as 'a definitive solution for Alzheimer's has been found.' The expectation should be an effect that slows the progression of the disease and provides more protection for cognitive skills." Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay states that Phase 4 should be awaited for the confirmation of the drug-related data.
Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine, Head of Internal Medical Sciences Department, Rector's Advisor, NPFUAM Director Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay made evaluations about the drug Aducanumab, developed to prevent the progression of Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer Risk Increases After Age 65
Emphasizing that Alzheimer's disease is one of the most important health problems awaiting a solution, Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay said, "Especially after the age of 65, the risk of developing the disease increases exponentially as age advances. We can say that one in every five people over the age of 80 has Alzheimer's. There are approximately 45 million Alzheimer's patients worldwide, and more than 7 million people develop Alzheimer's disease each year. It is projected that 81 million people will have Alzheimer's in 2040, and 135 million in 2050. If people live to an average age of 100, it is estimated that 75 percent of the population will have Alzheimer's."
Alzheimer Leads to Unusual Formations in Memory
Stating that the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown, Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay said, "In the disease, there are neuron and neuronal connection losses in some memory-related regions of the brain, and a significant decrease in the activity of the neurochemical called acetylcholine. Additionally, unusual formations called 'amyloid plaques' and 'neurofibrillary tangles' appear in memory-related regions. These plaques and tangles can also be thought of as pollution clouding clean water or a layer of rust hindering communication on a communication line. Scientists believe that these plaques and tangles cause memory-related problems and the progressive advancement of the disease, but it has not yet been fully clarified whether these are the cause or the result of the disease."
Current Drugs Can Only Slow Down Progression
Stating that a preventative or radical cure for the disease with medication is unfortunately not possible, Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay said, "In the current treatment of Alzheimer's, commonly used drugs such as Tacrine, Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine aim to increase the amount and effectiveness of acetylcholine in the brain by suppressing the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine. Memantine, a drug that blocks NMDA, one of the receptors to which glutamate binds, entered treatment after these. While it is possible to slow the progression of the disease to some extent by using existing drugs, provided that treatment starts early, beyond this, the expected benefit in drug treatment has not yet been achieved. For this reason, Alzheimer's patients require the care of an experienced or expert caregiver until they die, and as the disease progresses, they need special care clinics."
No New Drug for Alzheimer's Introduced in the Last 20 Years
Stating that Alzheimer's treatment is one of the most invested areas of neuroscience, Prof. Dr. Uzbay said, "Although drug research aimed at providing effective treatment is being carried out in many important centers around the world, no new Alzheimer's drug has been introduced to treatment in the last 20 years. Some promising candidates were also shelved without approval due to side effects during clinical phase studies or their inability to provide the expected effect. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of an Alzheimer's drug for the first time after a long break. This new drug named Aducanumab was met with joy and hope both in scientific circles and among those suffering from the disease."
A New Chapter May Open in Alzheimer's Treatment
Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay continued his words by stating that Aducanumab is a monoclonal antibody produced with a different strategy than those currently used in treatment and aims to prevent the formation of amyloid plaques:
"While existing drugs are thought to slow the progression of the disease, Aducanumab is expected to prevent disease progression by clearing extracellular amyloid plaques that appear in Alzheimer's and to provide more improvement in patients' cognitive functions compared to existing drugs. Although there is some promising data in the file submitted to the FDA, confirmation of this data can only be provided during widespread use, which we call Phase IV. Moreover, the drug's approval from the FDA was not unanimous. There were also members who thought it was too early for use in treatment. Furthermore, there are other similar monoclonal antibodies being researched. We can say that this new approach will open a new chapter in Alzheimer's treatment, and Aducanumab has made the opening. Although the drug has created great excitement, especially among patient relatives, it is beneficial not to have too high expectations for now."
Aducanumab Should Not Be Perceived as a Definitive Solution
Stating that approximately 100 studies have been conducted when reliable scientific databases related to the drug are examined, Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay said, "It is necessary to see reports from independent researchers and clinics other than the drug-producing company. This will take some time. The possibility of the drug radically curing Alzheimer's disease is extremely low, even seems impossible. The manufacturer does not have such a claim anyway. Therefore, patients and their relatives should not perceive this development as 'a definitive solution for Alzheimer's has been found.' The expectation should be an effect that slows the progression of the disease and provides more protection for cognitive skills. If the drug demonstrates a remarkable effect here as claimed, even this will be a significant step in the fight against Alzheimer's. Furthermore, it will facilitate the entry of more effective drugs produced with a similar strategy into treatment."
Drug Price Will Be More Expensive Compared to Existing Ones
Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay also stated that the price at which the drug will be offered and the protocol for its use are important, saying, "It is certain that new drugs based on monoclonal antibody technology will be more expensive than existing ones. It is important that the price is affordable by insurance companies or the state. In Turkey, we will see over time how the Ministry of Health will view and evaluate this new drug. In conclusion, we can say that Aducanumab has opened a new and promising chapter in Alzheimer's treatment, but it is still too early to declare a radical cure for the disease. However, it is highly probable that the drug will be more effective than existing ones in slowing down the disease and improving patients' cognitive functions."