22 April 2025 - Australia approves 1st drug for treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Australia approves new drug to treat early Alzheimer’s disease
Natasha May (The Guardian, 22/05/2025)
Australia’s medicines regulator has approved a new drug to treat the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, but experts warn that less than one in five people with dementia will be eligible for the treatment that could cost more than $80,000 out of pocket. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has registered donanemab, sold under the brand name Kisunla and developed by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, for the treatment of adults with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease who have a specific genetic profile.
Donanemab approved in Australia for treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Paige Cockburn (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 22/05/2025)
A drug that's been found to slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease by clearing proteins in the brain has been approved for use in Australia. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved a drug called Donanemab for those with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.The drug is given as an intravenous infusion through the arm every four weeks for a maximum of 18 months, and clinical trials have shown it can help in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Australia approves breakthrough new treatment to slow early Alzheimer's
Yashee Sharma (9News, 22/05/2025)
A first-of-its-kind treatment to slow the symptoms of early Alzheimer's disease has been approved for use in Australia. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has registered pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly's drug Kisunla (donanemab) for use by those with early symptomatic Alzheimer's who also have a presence of amyloid plaque, or protein clumps in the brain. A build-up of plaque causes issues associated with the neurodegenerative disease, like memory loss and impaired thinking. The drug is administered through a monthly infusion over a maximum of 18 months and works to clear plaque from the brain.
Australians living longer, but dementia and Alzheimer's are a greater risk: Study
Deakin University (Medical Press, 23/07/2023)
A new analysis of Australia's disease burden reveals Australians are living six years longer than they were 30 years ago, but more people are being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.Life expectancy at birth in Australia was 77 years in 1990 and had risen to 82.9 years by 2019 according to the data published in The Lancet Public Health, which also compared the burden of disease in Australia with 14 similar high socio-demographic (SDI) countries over the same period.
Drawing comparing how a brain of an Alzheimer disease patient is affected to a normal brain Wikipedia, Public domain.
