Concerns aired over access to new drug

Patients could be getting a breakthrough Alzheimer’s drug in a year, experts have said, but only a small proportion will benefit unless more is done to boost dementia services in the NHS.

They predict that unless there are drastic changes in UK dementia clinics, only 5% of patients eligible for the drug will be able to access it, and most of these will be private cases.

In September, scientists hailed a “historic moment” in Alzheimer’s research as a new drug was found to reduce memory decline among patients with earlystage disease.

Lecanemab, which is designed to target and clear amyloid – one of the proteins that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s –was found to slow decline in patients’ memory and thinking.

Scientists found that after 18 months the drug slowed the disease progression by 27%.

The drug, created by Tokyo-based company Eisai and US biotech firm Biogen, has been created for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in patients.