On 4 February, the Swiss medicines regulator Swissmedic authorised donanemab for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to AD. The announcement marks the first approval in Switzerland of a disease modifying AD drug that can slow disease progression at an early stage. Donanemab, developed by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, has already received approval from other major regulators, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
In its opinion, Swissmedic assessed that the potential benefits of donanemab outweigh its possible side effects and therefore recommended granting the authorisation. Alzheimer Schweiz Suisse Svizzera and the Swiss Memory Clinics welcomed the decision, describing it as a significant advance in AD treatment in Switzerland, while emphasising that many people with AD and their families continue to face substantial challenges. They also noted that the drug will be available to a limited number of people in the early stages of the disease and stressed that key questions remain about broader access and cost coverage, notably the drug’s inclusion in Switzerland’s official list of reimbursable medicines.
Learn more at: www.alzheimer-schweiz.ch/fr/medias/communique-de-presse-4022026-swissmedic-autorise-le-donanemab
