UAB doctor and more offer insight on new Alzheimer’s drug

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) — The drug Donanemab is expected to be available to Alzheimer’s patients within weeks following FDA approval.

“It is designed to remove a bad protein from the brain the amyloid protein that builds up over the course of Alzheimer’s Disease,” UAB professor Dr. David Geldmacher said. “And by removing that bad protein from the brain, it is able to slow down the progress of the illness.”

Dr. Geldmacher says the drug — branded Kisunla by the drugmaker Eli Lilly — stands out from the two other treatments used to slow the brain’s decline.

“We can check for effectiveness with pet scans as early as six months,” he said. “If the amyloid protein is reduced, we could potentially stop the treatment after only six months.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the move is a step in the right direction. Program Director Billy Curtis says Kisunla will give patients more time that’s often taken away because of the disease.

“We’ve been anticipating this since last year,” Curtis said. “A drug like this can enable you to have extra years of good cognitive health so you can spend that time with your family.”

Side effects of this drug include potential brain swelling and brain bleeding. However, Dr. Geldmacher says patients will receive brain scans on a regular basis.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.