Why Aduhelm, a new Alzheimer's treatment, isn't reaching many patients

Short Wave

NPR

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4.7 • 6.5K Ratings

🗓️ 5 November 2021

⏱️ 10 minutes

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Summary

Aduhelm, known generically as aducanumab, is the first drug to actually affect the underlying disease process associated with Alzheimer's. Yet sales have been limited, and the drug is reaching very few patients — at least so far. It's expensive, risky and likely doing little to improve patients' lives. NPR science correspondent Jon Hamilton explains why doctors and patients aren't excited about the new drug and what it could mean for future Alzheimer's drugs.

Additional links:
- Jon's reporting on aducanumab: https://n.pr/3bDV0MY
- Jon's reporting on future Alzheimer's treatments: https://n.pr/3bDUsqo

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Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to shortwave from NPR.
0:05.8	Hey short waivers, Maria Gidoy here.
0:08.4	And today we've got an update on a new drug for Alzheimer's disease.
0:12.7	It was supposed to be a huge cellar, but so far doctors and patients are pretty much ignoring
0:18.6	it.
0:19.6	And PR's brain maven, John Hamilton is here to help us understand why.
0:23.8	Welcome John.
0:24.8	Hey Maria.
0:25.8	Okay John, remind me what is this drug called?
0:29.2	The generic name is aducanemab, but it's marketed under the brand name aduhel.
0:35.0	And this drug is a big deal because it's the first one on the market that can actually
0:39.0	affect the underlying disease process associated with Alzheimer's.
0:42.8	It does that by removing amyloid from the brain.
0:45.2	Now amyloid is of course that sticky plaque that tends to build up in the brains of people
0:49.2	with Alzheimer's.
0:50.9	So if this is the only drug out there, to me it sounds like sales should be going gang
0:56.2	busters.
0:57.2	And yet they're not.
0:59.0	At least not so far.
1:00.2	The food and drug administration approved this drug in June, but sales figures show that
1:04.2	it's reaching very few patients.
1:06.0	We're talking about hundreds.
	...

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