Dent Neurological To Offer New Alzheimer’s Treatment

The FDA on Monday gave approval to a NEW Alzheimer's treatment and locally Dent Neurologic Institute will be offering the infusion treatment.

DENT Neurologic Institute is the largest outpatient neurology practice in the United States.

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The new drug, called aducanumab, is the first Alzheimer's drug to be approved by the FDA in almost two decades and is designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's, for which there is no known cure.

“Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating illness that can have a profound impact on the lives of people diagnosed with the disease as well as their loved ones,” said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Currently available therapies only treat symptoms of the disease; this treatment option is the first therapy to target and affect the underlying disease process of Alzheimer’s. As we have learned from the fight against cancer, the accelerated approval pathway can bring therapies to patients faster while spurring more research and innovation.”

Questions remain about the drug's overall effectiveness. The FDA reviewed the results of two major studies. One showed the drug to work, and the other showed it to be less effective.

A spokesperson from Dent told 7 Eyewitness News that the institute will offer the drug as an infusion treatment for younger patients, specifically those with early onset of memory disorders like Alzheimer's.

 

According to Dent, the drug is covered to some extent by insurance now that it has FDA approval however it does require prior authorization before treatment.

Dent hopes to become the first to treat patients with aducanumab outside of clinical testing. It expects to receive the drug in the coming weeks and is currently finding the right patients who would qualify to be the first to receive the drug.