A new drug is reported to slow Alzheimer's progression by 35 per cent. 

The drug company Eli Lilly has announced the results of their phase 3 trial into their Alzheimer’s drug ‘donanemab’. 

According to a company press release, the trial showed that donanemab significantly slowed cognitive and functional decline in people with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. 

The trial looked at how the drug altered a measure of cognition and ability to partake in activities of daily living, called the Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (iADRS). 

It found that for people with early stages of Alzheimer's there was a 35 per cent slowing of decline on this scale. 

After Lecanemab was shown as a promising disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in January, the Donanemab antibody has now shown similar results in phase III clinical trials. 

Both antibodies help clear away amyloid plaques in the brain; a buildup of sticky protein widely known to drive the symptoms of AD. 

Donanemab even produced amyloid plaque clearance as early as 6 months after the start of the treatment (34 per cent) and 12 months (71 per cent). 

Based on the long-held theory that amyloid reduction may lead to reduced cognitive decline, the trial was able to show a slowing of cognitive and functional decline in patients with early stage of AD.

Donanemab employed a different trial design than Lecanemab. 

Both phase III trials recruited around 1700 participants, however, Donanemab enrolled some people with high levels of tau at baseline, who are predicted to progress to AD more quickly and less responsive to therapy. The donanemab trial also has a different primary endpoint than the Lecanemab trial.

Experts say the findings emphasise the value of early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease to support access to these treatments aiming to clear amyloid plaques.