Lilly CEO Highlights Donanemab's Potential Preventive Role in Alzheimer’s Disease

Intelligent Finance and Economics News learned that media reports on Sunday said that David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly and Company (LLY.US), told then UK Health Secretary Victoria Atkins in December last year that the company's new Alzheimer's candidate drug might be a one-time treatment, although data supporting this claim is limited. According to the report, Ricks stated that donanemab "has the potential to treat those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear" by reducing amyloid plaque protein clusters in the brain, which are believed to cause Alzheimer’s disease. The report quoted Atkins as saying that he emphasized the "game-changing potential" of this candidate drug.

However, it was reported that Eli Lilly has not yet proven the likelihood of this effect of the drug. The report also mentioned that the study evaluating the potential preventive benefits of donanemab is not set to conclude until the end of 2027, and this was not clearly stated in the meeting minutes disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.

Eli Lilly and Company stated in an interview: "It is possible to treat Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear, and we are verifying this through ongoing trials."

Donanemab is under review by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for the treatment of early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. Donanemab, marketed under the brand name Kisunla, has been approved this year in the United States and Japan. Its competitor is Leqembi (lecanemab) from Biogen (BIIB.US) and Eisai.