Last week, the MHRA and NICE have announced that the newly licensed drug, lecanemab which is used to slow down Alzheimer’s is too costly for the NHS.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab for sale in Great Britain. However, the drug has not been deemed cost-effective for the NHS. As a result, a provisional decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) means that people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s won’t have access to lecanemab through the NHS. For now, it will only be available privately at a high cost, putting it out of reach for many.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting six out of every ten people with the condition in the UK. While current treatments only relieve symptoms temporarily, lecanemab is the first licensed treatment in England, Scotland, and Wales that can slow the progression of early-stage Alzheimer’s rather than just manage symptoms.

Katie Antill, Chief Executive Officer at Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Services (ADSS), responds to the announcement:

“I am deeply disappointed to hear that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has made a provisional decision that Lecanemab is not value for money for the NHS. It is remarkable to have a treatment that can modify the progression of Alzheimer’s, but it is a terrible shame for people with the condition that they will not be able to access this treatment through the NHS.

Slowing the progression for any length of time could have a profound impact on the person and their families. The NHS urgently needs to address its ability to diagnose people and make treatments available if we are going to change the devastating impact Alzheimer’s and other dementias can have.”

If you have questions about lecanemab, and want to know more about dementia research. You can call us on 01474 533 990 (9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday – excluding bank holidays) or email info@alz-dem.org.