Alzheimer Europe Press release - European Medicines Agency rejects marketing authorisation application for aducanumab

MEDIA RELEASE COMMUNIQUE AUX MEDIAS MEDIENMITTEILUNG

European Medicines Agency rejects marketing authorisation application for aducanumab

Luxembourg, 17 December 2021 – Today, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in a decision closely watched by the European dementia community, decided not to authorise aducanumab for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease and mild Alzheimer’s dementia.

Alzheimer Europe understands that people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families had high hopes and expectations about the introduction of new treatment options and that they will be disappointed that there was not enough scientific evidence for the EMA to support the authorisation of aducanumab.

The decision about this new medicine was also highly debated in the US, where the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chose to grant conditional approval for aducanumab following an “accelerated approval pathway”. This pathway can be used to approve a drug for a serious or life-threatening illness based on surrogate end points. The FDA approval was based on aducanumab’s proven effect on lowering amyloid, a surrogate end point that the FDA deemed “reasonably likely” to predict a clinical benefit to patients. In addition, the FDA required a post-approval trial to verify that the drug provides the expected clinical benefit. As a result of these diverging decisions, Europeans with Alzheimer’s disease will not have access to treatment options available to American patients.

Alzheimer Europe appreciates the fact that the EMA had to base its decision on the more ambiguous results on cognition and executive function derived from the two phase III clinical trials conducted to date, rather than the significant effect of the medicine on amyloid reduction. Whilst this will delay access to aducanumab for European patients, Alzheimer Europe hopes that the post-approval trial mandated by the FDA or a new confirmatory phase III trial will provide the necessary scientific evidence for the EMA to reconsider its position.

Whilst disappointed by this decision, Alzheimer Europe remains encouraged by the number of companies and organisations continuing to invest in research and the new treatment options currently being developed. The organisation therefore reiterates its call for continued research into other treatment options, including symptomatic treatment for people in more advanced stages. In addition, Alzheimer Europe remains committed to a holistic approach to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia where new and exciting treatment options are included alongside counselling, support and adequate care of people with dementia and their carers throughout the disease process.

Alzheimer Europe welcomes the recent announcement from Biogen confirming the launch of its post-approval trial in May 2022, aiming to provide more definitive evidence on the clinical efficacy of aducanumab. Alzheimer Europe also remains encouraged by the number of companies and organisations continuing to invest in research and the new treatment options currently being developed. The organisation therefore reiterates its call for continued research into other treatment options, including symptomatic treatment for people in more advanced stages. In addition, Alzheimer Europe remains committed to a holistic approach to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia where new and exciting treatment options are included alongside counselling, support and adequate care of people with dementia and their carers throughout the disease process.

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/summaries-opinion/aduhelm

For further information, contact: Jean Georges, Executive Director, Alzheimer Europe, 14, rue Dicks, L-1417 Luxembourg, Tel.: +352-29 79 70, Fax: +352-29 79 72, jean.georges@alzheimer-europe.org, www.alzheimer-europe.org

Notes to editors:

Alzheimer Europe is the umbrella organisation of national Alzheimer associations and currently has 37 member organisations in 33 European countries.

Declaration of interests: Alzheimer Europe had an audited income of EUR 1,322,672 in 2020. Sponsorship by the developing companies of aducanumab (Eisai and Biogen) amounted to EUR 60,272 or 3.55% of total income. Sponsorship by pharmaceutical companies is only accepted in accordance with the organisation’s Sponsorship guidelines and, in line with the European Medicines Agency criteria for patient organisations, declared in full transparency on the Alzheimer Europe website: https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Alzheimer-Europe/Finances2/AE-Sponsors

European Commission

Alzheimer Europe receives funding under an operating grant from the European Union’s Health Programme (2014-2020). The content of this statement represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.