Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center has begun prescribing Leqembi (lecanemab), a new drug jointly developed by Biogen and Japan's Eisai to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
The hospital said Wednesday that a team led by Professor Kim Hyung-ji of the Department of Neurology completed the first administration of Leqembi to a female patient in her 50s who was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease a week ago.
Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center in Gyeonggi Province
Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center in Gyeonggi Province
The patient was hospitalized for two days and was discharged after completing the treatment with Leqembi and being monitored for side effects.
Professor Kim's team followed the patient, who came to the hospital with symptoms of memory decline for more than six months, conducting a systematic examination and developing a treatment plan for her medication. The hospital said they plan to administer Leqembi every two weeks for 18 months.
Leqembi requires various tests before treatment and a surveillance system in case of side effects. Before starting treatment, patients will undergo cognitive function tests, brain MRI scans, and apolipoprotein gene testing. Afterward, a PET-CT scan or cerebrospinal fluid test is performed to check for amyloid beta protein deposits. A neurologist, radiologist, and nuclear medicine specialist will then determine the suitability of the treatment.
During and after dosing, patients may experience fever, headache, muscle pain, and vomiting. In some patients, cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral edema have been reported as adverse events. Regular MRI examinations are recommended to check for side effects, including brain hemorrhage and brain edema.
“While existing dementia treatments are effective in slowing the onset of symptoms and relieving symptoms of late-stage dementia when taken long-term (symptomatic management), the new amyloid-targeting antibody treatment is effective as a disease-modifying drug, slowing the progression of cognitive decline by 27 percent with 18 months of treatment,” Professor Kim said.
Slowing disease deterioration can also make existing treatments work better, providing various care options for people with dementia and their families over the long term, Kim added.
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Kim Yoon-mi yoonmi@docdocdoc.co.kr
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