The Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) has expressed concern with recent findings of a new Cochrane review into new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
Released this week, the Cochrane review examined clinical trial data on different anti-amyloid treatments, leading to media coverage that these medicines show ‘no clinically meaningful benefit’ for people with Alzheimer’s.
ADNeT questions the findings of the review, given it included different drugs at different doses already shown to be ineffective that therefore didn’t proceed beyond early-stage clinical trials.
ADNeT Director Professor Chris Rowe:
“The inclusion of earlier failed drugs shown not to work is illogical and distorts the results of the final review. These early-stage drugs were from trials where the drug was shown not to work as they did not reduce the amyloid on PET scans and so were abandoned as treatments. Learning from these earlier failed drugs led to the successful development of newer drugs at the right dose, proven to remove amyloid plaques and slowing of decline in memory and thinking. This is the standard trial and error approach for research to develop new therapies for any disease or health condition.”
In the past 12 months Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved two new anti-amyloid therapies – lecanemab and donanemab – both of which have proven to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Although both therapies have received TGA approval, they are not yet listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme meaning not all Australians have access to these new treatments.
Professor Rowe continued:
“We are at the beginning of a revolution in innovative ways to treat, diagnosis and prevent dementia. These new anti-amyloid therapies are the most significant breakthrough in decades for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. The benefit is modest as they buy time but do not cure the disease. This is like the first treatments that emerged with chemotherapy for cancer or anti-HIV drugs for AIDS. Over time new drugs were added resulting in much greater long-term benefits. This is where the treatment of AD now sits. Current research and trials will develop drugs that add to the benefit from anti-amyloid treatments.
Treatment of a disease is more effective when given early. ADNeT is trialling new blood tests for AD for widespread use to make earlier diagnosis and therefore better treatment outcomes a reality.”
“Bringing these innovations to the Australian community in a timely and equitable way will improve outcomes for patients and their families and reduce long term costs to our health and aged care systems. Negative stories from this distorted review cannot be allowed to detract from the momentum and progress in Alzheimer’s early diagnosis and treatment over the past 24 months.”
ADNeT supports increased investment in dementia research nationally to bring these latest innovations to the clinic in line with the action items of the Federal Government’s National Dementia Action Plan released in December 2024.
About ADNeT
The Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) isa national collaboration of leading Australian clinicians and researchers from across 24 institutions focused on improving dementia diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
For more information, go to https://www.australiandementianetwork.org.au/.
Key Facts About Dementia
Dementia is Australia’s leading cause of death with 447,000 cases each year.
Cases are forecast to exceed 1 million by 2065
The financial toll will rise from $18.7bn in 2025 to $36.8bn per year by 2056
54% of residents in permanent residential aged care have dementia
1.7 million Australians are involved in the care of someone with dementia