USA2 SPOTLIGHT

An October 25, 2019 UsAgainstAlzheimer’s news release recalled Day 2 of the UsA2 2019 National Alzheimer’s Summit this week in Washington. According to Chairman George Vradenburg, “UsAgainstAlzheimer’s has called for a time-based, national prevention goal, and we applaud our friends and partners across top thought-leadership, research, and government entities in joining us. The optimal system of care that will ultimately yield the best results for the 5.8 million people living with Alzheimer’s, their 16 million caregivers, and their families, must include a coordinated, national effort with healthcare consumers, providers, and payers to ultimately drive the prevention, in addition to the treatment and cure, of this disease. The added weight of groups like the CDC, the Milken Institute, and Wake Forest only heighten the urgent need for this optimal system.”

An October 22, 2019 UsAgainstAlzheimer’s statement responsed to Biogen and Eisai’s announcement of their plans to seek FDA-approval for aducanumab, for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease. “We congratulate Biogen and Eisai for this achievement and applaud their persistence in pursuing a pharmacological cure for Alzheimer’s despite earlier setbacks. We are encouraged that a new analysis of a larger dataset from the Phase III clinical studies that were discontinued in March 2019 shows that aducanumab may reduce brain amyloid and clinical decline in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. Research into drug therapies for Alzheimer’s has seen too many disappointments, and today’s announcement is a positive and much-needed sign of progress in the drive to stop this disease,” said UsA2 Co-Founder George Vradenburg.

MUST READS

An October 25, 2019 Time Magazine article pointed to Biogen’s recently-released full report on its experimental drug aducanumab for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the article, “After 18 months of taking aducanumab, participants in one of the studies showed anywhere from 15% to 27% less cognitive decline, as measured by standard tests of memory and cognitive ability, compared to those receiving a placebo. The cognitive protection was most pronounced in those getting the highest dose of the drug.”

MUST LISTEN

An October 24, 2019 STAT The Readout Loud podcast focused entirely on the latest announcement from Biogen about the revival of its drug candidate aducanumabe. The segment looks at implications, expert and patient reactions, and behind-the-scenes.