Eisai’s Aricept ‘slows Alzheimer’s brain shrinkage’

Aricept (donepezil), the Eisai drug recently ruled by NICE out as a treatment for mild and newly-diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has been found to “measurably” reduce brain shrinkage in some patients with mild cognitive impairment – often a precursor to AD.

The details of the study have been welcomed by AD groups in the UK, after the Alzheimer’s Society branded NICE’s decision as “disgraceful”.

The study, led by Clifford Jack Jr, a radiologist at the Mayo Clinic in the US, found that patients treated with Aricept demonstrated less shrinkage of the hippocampus – a part of the brain responsible for memory – than the placebo.

Dr Jack stated: “No drug has been shown to slow brain atrophy for patients with mild cognitive impairment.”

“Our study results seem to imply that donepezil does more than provide symptom relief – it has an effect on a measure of brain health,” he added.

The policy director of Alzheimer’s Scotland welcomed the results of the study and told the Scotsman that it should put additional pressure on NICE to reconsider its appraisal of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

She remarked: “This research is further evidence of why NICE’s recommendation to delay treatment until people have moderate Alzheimer’s is fundamentally flawed.”

Ms Fearnley concluded: “Although it’s a small study, it is in tune with other research which shows the brain changes of Alzheimer’s disease may start years before diagnosis.”

NICE said it made its decision based on clinical evidence and cost effectiveness calculations. Eisai has written to the Parliamentary Ombudsman to force NICE to reveal what those calculations entailed.

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