Alzheimer's: First drug to slow progression of disease gains approval of US regulator the FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration has fully approved a drug that slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease for the first time.

The FDA has granted full regulatory approval to Leqembi - a drug by Japanese manufacturers Eisai and US drugmakers Biogen. Up to now, other approved drugs targeted only the symptoms of the progressive disease, but Leqembi focuses on a protein in the brain, beta-amyloid, believed to be one of the main causes of Alzheimer's.Leqembi will cost $26,000 a year, although Medicare - theImage:When researchers measured the drug's effectiveness in a clinical trial, Leqembi slowed down the progression of the illness of those with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage disease by 27% over an 18-month period.

However, some medical professionals have criticised it for contributing to brain swelling and haemorrhages - there were also three deaths linked to the drug in the trials.

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