Autumn 2024 Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Ask A Doctor
• Overview: Alzheimer's Association 2024 Facts and Figures Report
• The Power of Philanthropy: Making a Difference Together
• Clinical Trials
• Upcoming Events

The Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care at UCLA has very active teams working on basic research, drug discovery, biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical activity including clinical trials, cognitive testing, and patient care.

Ask A Doctor

By: Marie Kim, MD, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at UCLA

Donanemab and lecanemab are two new medications for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease. In this newsletter's “Ask A Doctor” section, Dr. Marie Kim answers common questions we receive from patients about their differences.

1. What DONANEMAB and LECANEMAB are, and how they work to address Alzheimer's disease?

Donanemab, known by the brand name Kisunla™, and lecanemab, known by the brand name Leqembi®, are two FDA-approved anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody treatments for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. They work with the body’s immune cells to target and remove amyloid from the brain, thereby slowing disease progression. As the accumulation of two proteins, amyloid-beta, and tau, are at the biological basis of Alzheimer’s disease, both medications are categorized as disease-modifying therapies.

Lecanemab received accelerated approval from the FDA on January 6, 2023, with full approval granted on July 6, 2023, and donanemab received FDA approval more recently on July 2, 2024.

Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/ZMHnJqS5vqw?si=9-_Xhln3IJ0aUWvA

Continue reading the article.