(TheLibertyRevolution.com)- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Monday that a new drug designed to tackle the cause of Alzheimer’s disease has just been approved. The Biogen-made drug “aducanumab” is the first drug of its kind to be approved by the federal agency, and while there is still significant debate about the effectiveness of the drug, Biogen shares soared immediately afterwards.
If the drug does prove effective, it could be an absolute game-changer.
Biogen announced that the drug, which will be sold under the name “Aduhelm,” will cost $56,000 per year. Shares jumped by 52% to $434.52 when trading resumed the day after the announcement.
A statement from Biogen reveals how the drug is designed to remove the sticky deposits of a protein that affects Alzheimer’s patients’ brains. The protein is known as “amyloid beta” and when removed from the brain in the earlier stages of the disease, it is theorized that sufferers can reduce memory loss and remain independent for longer.
Dr. Ronald Peterson, a Mayo Clinic clinician who specializes in Alzheimer’s disease, said that it’s good news for sufferers of the disease, but added that it is “not a cure.” Peterson said that the drug is designed to slow down the progression of the disease, which in itself is still an incredible advancement.
Peterson said that it’s a “big day” but it’s important for doctors not to “overpromise.”
The United States has a major problem with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s currently the sixth biggest cause of death.
Trials that preceded the approval of the drug reportedly determined that Aduhelm is able to reduce the amyloid beta plaque on the brain, which scientists believe is “reasonably likely” to provide major benefits to patients suffering in the early stages of the disease.
Many doctors have called for more studies to be performed to determine the effectiveness of the disease, but with the drug now available for patients to use, it’s likely we’ll see more data on this over the coming years.
