Donanemab

Generic name: Donanemab
Dosage form: Intravenous infusion

Usage of Donanemab

Donanemab is Lilly's new investigational medicine for Alzheimer’s disease . Donanemab is an immunotherapy drug that slows down the rate at which memory and thinking skills decline; this means that Alzheimer’s disease does not progress as quickly compared to patients who do not take Donanemab. When Alzheimer’s patients have been taking this medicine, they are able to continue daily activities and hobbies for a longer time as the rate of decline in their memory and thinking skills is slowed. 

Donanemab side effects

In clinical trials side effects of this medicine included nausea, urinary tract infection, diarhea, cerebral microhemorrhage, infusion-related reaction, vomiting, and anxiety. 

This medicine can cause changes in the brain called amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) which can be seen by MRI.  In the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ clinical trial, the total number of donanemab patients who had amyloid-related imaging abnormalities was 38.9% compared to the placebo group, which had 8%.

There are two types of ARIA. 

ARIA-E is when a MRI shows fluid accumulating in the brain (cerebral edema).  Symptoms may include headaches, confusion, changes in mental state, vomiting, nausea, tremor, and gait disturbances. In the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ clinical trial, 27.5 % of donanemab patients experienced this side effect, and 0.8% in the placebo group.

ARIA-H is when a MRI detects small hemorrhages on the brain, these are sometimes called microhaemorrhages. In the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ clinical trial, 30.5% of donanemab patients had ARIA-H compared to 7.2% of the placebo group. 

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