There are newfound grounds for optimism in the Down syndrome community.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced they’re approving Kisunla, a new drug developed by Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly). Kisunla has been shown in clinical trials to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
An anti-amyloid drug, Kisunla is designed to remove brain plaque, and as a result, slow cognitive and functional decline in individuals with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. Kisunla is the third anti-amyloid drug to receive FDA approval in the last three years.
This news is of extreme significance to the Down syndrome community as a staggering 90% of individuals with Down syndrome will develop Alzheimer’s by the young age of 54. Kisunla gaining FDA approval gives the Down syndrome population another treatment option.
As optimistic as this news is, more work is needed.
No one with Down syndrome was included in the clinical trials of Kisunla, nor were they included with the other two anti-amyloid drugs that received FDA approval. Because of this, it’s unclear how safe or effective these drugs may be for people with Down syndrome.
Despite individuals with Down syndrome being particularly vulnerable to Alzheimer’s, they’ve been shut out of every clinical trial, but that’s starting to change. Lilly recently announced at an FDA meeting that they’re planning a clinical trial with the Down syndrome community for a new Alzheimer’s drug.
Read more about Kisunla’s approval and what it means for the Down syndrome community.