FDA approves Aduhelm, first new drug for Alzheimer's in 20 years
CBSN
The first new drug for Alzheimer's disease in nearly 20 years received approval from government health officials on Monday. The decision disregarded warnings from independent advisers that the much-debated treatment hasn't been shown to help slow the brain-destroying disease.
The Food and Drug Administration said it granted approval to the drug developed by Biogen for patients with Alzheimer's disease. The drug, known as Aduhelm, has the scientific name aducanumab (pronounced "add-yoo-CAN-yoo-mab"). It's the only drug that U.S. regulators have said can likely treat the underlying disease, rather than manage symptoms like anxiety and insomnia.Ashley White received her earliest combat action badge from the United States Army soon after the first lieutenant arrived in Afghanistan. The silver military award, recognizing soldiers who've been personally engaged by an attacker during conflict, was considered an achievement in and of itself as well as an affirming rite of passage for the newly deployed. White had earned it for using her own body to shield a group of civilian women and children from gunfire that broke out in the midst of her third mission in Kandahar province. All of them survived. She never mentioned the badge to anyone in her battalion.