Date: Thursday 26 June
Time: 11.55am - 1.10pm

Overview

After a long period of repeated failure, the first drugs which are able to modify the disease course of dementia (specifically Alzheimer's disease) have been described. The development of these medicines, at the time of writing monoclonal antibodies to amyloid, have been controversial. Initial trials of similar drugs were disappointing before the first positive results emerged for aducanumab. Though this drug was licensed in the US, the data was not clear. Two further drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, have published more clearly positive results. Controversy has persisted both over the clinical meaning of any improvement, the benefit of risks and harms, costs and the size of the minority of people who might be eligible to take them. This controversy is reflected in differences in regulatory approvals. For example lecanemab has been licensed of use in many places in the world, though not in Europe. It has been approved for use by the MHRA, but NICE have indicated it is unlikely to be available on the NHS due to concerns over cost effectiveness.  This is a confusing landscape for clinicians and patients.

• Understand recent developments in disease modifying drugs for dementia
• Understand the current national and international licensing and NICE position on these drugs
• Understand the perspective of clinicians and people with lived experience of dementia on these changes
• Developments likely in the immediate future, for example changes in the selection of people eligible for currently licensed drugs and new drugs which have been or will soon be submitted for regulatory approval