The research is 10 years in the making and scientists discovered a new class of potential drug targets.
Mar 1, 2022
Image
An epic tug of war is playing out behind the scenes over whether the government should pay for Aduhelm, a controversial Alzheimer’s drug that scientists say has not been proven to work./Lydia Zuraw/KHN
Pharmaceutical industry and patients representatives want to stop restricting Medicare funding for a controversial Alzheimer’s drug. Critics say it should never have been approved.
Facing a host of challenges, Aduhelm’s makers are running an educational campaign directed at consumers who are worried about whether their forgetfulness is a sign of disease.
Scientists may have to wait many years to find out whether Aduhelm is actually effective because the drug was approved using FDA's accelerated pathway.
Prescriptions for a controversial new drug for Alzheimer's could run $56 billion a year, putting a significant financial burden on Medicare, the health insurance for the elderly.