Health Canada has approved donanemab, sold by Eli Lilly under the brand name Kisunla, making it the second drug in Canada capable of slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Donanemab targets amyloid plaques, sticky protein buildups in the brain associated with early-stage Alzheimer's. While not a cure, clinical trials show it can slow decline in memory, thinking, and daily function by 22% overall, and up to 35% in patients less advanced in the disease. Treatment can be stopped once plaques are cleared, with some patients discontinuing after just six months.
The approval is a hopeful milestone, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. However, Health Canada has limited use to adults without the APOE4 gene variant, which increases dementia risk. Side effects may include temporary brain swelling, known as ARIA.
Canada's Drug Agency will now assess public funding, a process that could take up to two years.