US approves controversial new Alzheimer’s drug

New medicine made from living cells given by infusion reduces plaque on the brain, gives hope for sufferers.

United States health officials on Monday approved a new drug for Alzheimer’s disease – the first in nearly 20 years – giving hope to 6.2 million Americans and many more worldwide over the age of 65 who suffer from the brain disease. On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had granted approval to a drug called aducanumab for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. It is the only drug approved by US regulators to treat the underlying cause of the disease, the build-up of fatty plaque in the brain. Clinical trials of the new drug, developed by Biogen Inc, showed a reduction in the plaque, thus helping to slow mental decline.