New Alzheimer’s Drug Shows Promise to Slow Disease Progression

A “Ray of Light” Toward a Cure,
Says Science Foundation Leader

The following statement was issued today by Stacy Pagos Haller, President and CEO of BrightFocus Foundation, a premier private funder of scientific research on Alzheimer’s and age-related vision diseases.

“The new scientific data unveiled today by Eli Lilly and Company is a ray of light for the many millions around the world impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. The company’s experimental drug, donanemab, slowed the progression of early-stage Alzheimer’s by 32 percent versus the placebo when measuring cognitive and daily functions in a Phase 2 clinical trial. The drug clears the brain of amyloid plaques associated with the disease, returning this key indicator to normal levels.

“When paired with the growing scientific progress toward earlier detection and diagnosis of the disease, this announcement brings new hope to the fight against Alzheimer’s, the only major cause of death currently without an approved drug to slow or stop it.

“As donanemab moves on to additional clinical trials, I encourage those living with early signs of Alzheimer’s to consider joining this or other clinical studies. As we have seen with the COVID-19 vaccines, volunteering for clinical trials is a highly valuable way to be a part of the cure, accelerating the path to new safe and effective treatments.”