Reacción a "EMA revises earlier decision and decides to approve lecanemab for Alzheimer's disease"

The recommendation by the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) to approve lecanemab in Europe represents a promising advance in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. This treatment, the first to show the ability to slow disease progression, is indicated for patients in early stages and with a specific genetic profile, excluding those with two copies of the APOE4 gene due to a higher risk of side effects. Furthermore, its administration will be controlled through a limited access programme to ensure safe and appropriate use.

Importantly, this recommendation does not imply immediate availability of the drug across Europe, as each country will have to decide whether to include it in its public health system. While lecanemab offers modest efficacy and is expected to initially benefit a small number of patients, its approval opens the door to more effective and safer treatments in the future, as well as boosting research and development of new therapies and advancing the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.