Our response to NICE announcement on lecanemab and donanemab

On Thursday, 6 March, NICE published further draft guidance for public consultation that continues to not recommend Alzheimer’s treatments donanemab and lecanemab for use on the NHS.

We've funded research 30 years ago responsible for identifying the role of the amyloid plaques targeted by lecanemab and donanemab in Alzheimer’s disease. 

Alzheimer's Society response

Professor Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at Alzheimer’s Society said: 

“These NICE recommendations will remain disappointing for people eager to see these treatments readily available, though we continue to respect the decisions of the regulator. We appreciate their rigour and flexibility in their review of the first disease modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

“We hope that learnings from this process will pave the way for future treatments, and with over 120 other drugs in trials for Alzheimer’s disease we may see more drugs submitted for regulatory approval in the near future. Alzheimer’s Society will continue to be a voice for people affected by dementia in the appraisal of these emerging treatments. 

But while preparing for the future, we must not forget the need to support the around a million people living with dementia in the UK today.   

The importance of a dementia diagnosis and government investment

“A diagnosis is the single most effective route to the care, support and information we know is vital for everyone living with dementia and their loved ones. Yet a third of people with dementia don’t have a diagnosis and can’t access existing treatments and support that can help with managing symptoms.   

“We need significant, long-term government investment into the diagnosis workforce and infrastructure to benefit people with dementia today and to get health systems ready to deliver groundbreaking future treatments.”