A SECOND dementia drug has been proven to work in a “breakthrough” clinical trial.
Scientists say they are entering a new era of tackling the devastating condition.
Trials of a medicine called donanemab showed it put the brakes on brain damage in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Half of patients’ symptoms did not get worse for at least a year and those taking the drug had 36 per cent less mental decline after 18 months, on average.
They were better able to hold conversations, manage their money or enjoy hobbies than people not given the medication.
Donanemab works by breaking down damaging amyloid plaques that build up in the brain and is the second drug proven to do so.
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Dr Richard Oakley, research director at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “After 20 years with no new Alzheimer's drugs, we now have two potential new drugs in just twelve months.
“This could be the beginning of the end of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Dr Marc Busche, from the UK Dementia Research Institute, added: “This clinical trial is a real breakthrough, demonstrating a remarkable slowing of cognitive decline.
“I believe this therapy has the potential to significantly improve patients’ and families’ lives today.”
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The trial was carried out by US drugmaker Eli Lilly and involved 1,736 people to compare the progress of dementia in patients with and without the medicine.
Everyone in the study was aged 60 to 85 and diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s.
It found people with milder symptoms benefited more from donanemab but those in worse condition also saw improvements.
Dementia is the leading cause of death in Britain and Alzheimer’s causes more than two thirds of cases.
Around 900,000 Brits have dementia and this is set to rise beyond a million by 2025.
There is currently no cure or way of slowing the fatal disease, which robs sufferers of their memory, intelligence and physical strength.
UK scientists warn the NHS must now gear up to get drugs to patients.
Dr Oakley added: “We need decisions as quickly as possible from the regulators but that’s not the end of the story.
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“We can’t end up in a situation where there are new drugs but people can’t get access to them early in their dementia when they work best.
“We need more accurate, earlier dementia diagnosis in the NHS.”
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