NHS England statement on Alzheimers treatment lecanemab: Thursday 22 August 2024

From: NHS England
Published: Thu Aug 22 2024


In response to the MHRA and NICE decisions on lecanemab, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, said:

“The NHS now awaits a final decision from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence that will look at the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of lecanemab and determine if it should be routinely offered by the NHS in England.

“Lecanemab is the first disease modifying treatment for Alzheimer's disease with a market approval in the UK, and to ensure the health system is prepared for future advances in treatments, a dedicated NHS team is also looking ahead to 27 other drugs which are currently in advanced clinical trials that could be potentially approved by 2030.”

For background

  • NHS England has a dedicated national team in place to plan for the roll out of a new class of disease modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease - they first need to be approved by the MHRA and NICE which have to assess the safety and clinical and cost effectiveness of the treatment
  • if anyone is concerned about having signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, they should speak to their GP
  • there's currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but medicines are available that can help relieve some of the symptoms
  • there are also things people can do to reduce their risk or delay the onset of dementia, such as stopping smoking, cutting down on alcohol, eating a healthy, balanced diet and staying physically fit and mentally active

Company: NHS England

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