Biogen discontinues Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, once expected to spur surge in imaging use
Biogen Inc. on Wednesday announced plans to discontinue sales of its blockbuster Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, which was once expected to spur a surge in imaging use.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical giant said it instead plans to concentrate resources around Leqembi, the first anti-amyloid beta treatment with the FDA’s traditional approval in the U.S.
Aduhlem has faced a “complicated” history, CNN noted this week. Biogen nearly abandoned it in 2019 after an independent panel said the drug does not appear to slow cognitive decline and functional impairment. A U.S. House committee also criticized the drug’s development and its hefty price tag at $56,000, despite questions about its efficacy.
“We have gained significant insight from the development of Aduhelm and will carry this forward as we continue our pioneering work in Alzheimer’s disease,” Priya Singhal, MD, head of development at Biogen, said in a Jan. 31 announcement. “We’d like to sincerely thank the trial investigators, healthcare providers, advocates, patients and families involved in the development of Aduhelm.”
As reported by Radiology Business in 2021, providers had anticipated an uptick in imaging use after the drug’s approval. Screening patients for the drug necessitated a PET scan or lumbar puncture, and individuals also required a baseline MRI within one year before treatment and two more prior to subsequent infusions. Biogen had estimated that more than 1.5 million patients would be eligible in the U.S., and instances of the disease are anticipated to double by 2050, up to 13 million.
Radiologists last year also warned physicians to be aware of potential side effects from Aduhelm. You can read more imaging-related coverage about the drug at the links below.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.