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This week’s decision by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) to reject funding for two groundbreaking Alzheimer’s drugs Leqembi™ (lecanemab) and Kisunla™ (donanemab) has understandably caused concern across the dementia care and research community. Whilst the treatments have shown promising results in slowing early-stage Alzheimer’s by removing amyloid plaques and delaying cognitive decline, they will not be available to NHS patients due to cost-effectiveness concerns.
The rejection is a significant blow for the very significant number of people in England who could have benefitted. Despite receiving MHRA approval and UK licences, these drugs will now be accessible only through private centres, including Re:Cognition Health’s centres in London and Birmingham. NICE’s decision has sparked criticism from leading figures, including Alzheimer’s Research UK, who warn of the wider impact on the UK’s position as a global leader in dementia innovation.
At Re:Cognition Health, however, there is still a pathway of hope. We are proud to offer access to similar next-generation medications designed to slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease and its symptoms, through international clinical trials.
Indeed, our expert clinical team has given thousands of doses of these treatments to our patients, who have taken part in the clinical trials for these medications over the past few years. Today, Re:Cognition Health’s very experienced UK and USA Centres provide these medications via Medicare in the USA and privately in the UK, also many medication via late phase clinical trials.
These trials are free to join, regardless of financial circumstance, and are open to those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s who meet clinical eligibility. Participants may be given the active drug or a placebo, but all will receive expert medical care and contribute to advancing research that can change the course of Alzheimer’s globally. However, these treatments are designed, work best and therefore, when licensed, are suitable for people whose symptoms of memory loss and related cognitive impairment are still mild.
As Dr Emer MacSweeney, CEO of Re:Cognition Health, stated: “Scientific progress is incremental. While NHS access may not be available yet, clinical trials provide a vital opportunity for patients today- and a foundation for the breakthroughs of tomorrow.”
To find out more about eligibility and upcoming trials at our clinics in London and Bristol, please contact our team.
Progress may be delayed – but it hasn’t stopped and early action is the secret.
