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Donate NowAducanumab Discontinued as an Alzheimer's Treatment
Aducanumab (Aduhelm®), which received accelerated approval as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021, has been discontinued by its manufacturer (Biogen).
Aducanumab was the first therapy to demonstrate that removing beta-amyloid, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, from the brain reduces cognitive and functional decline in people living with early Alzheimer's.
Aducanumab's approval was a landmark event for the Alzheimer's field, and there continue to be many advancements in treatment.
For more information about aducanumab, see below. Contact the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900 with questions.
Learn more about other available FDA-approved treatments: Medications for Memory, Cognition and Dementia-Related Behaviors
Aducanumab FAQs
Why was Biogen discontinued?
According to Biogen, aducanumab was discontinued in order for the company "to reprioritize its resources in Alzheimer's disease." Aducanumab was not discontinued for reasons related to safety or efficacy.
How to navigate treatment options
There is exciting progress in Alzheimer’s and dementia research that is creating promising new treatments. It is important to learn as much as you can about which drugs are available.
Does this mean aducanumab didn't work?
According to the publicly available data, this treatment provided statistically significant benefit in slowing cognitive decline due to early Alzheimer’s. The company said discontinuing this drug was a business decision based on how it wants to allocate its resources.
What happens to the people who were taking Aduhelm? Can they switch to one of the other treatments?
Biogen announced in January 2024 that Aduhelm would be discontinued in November 2024, allowing clinical trial participants access until May 1, 2024, and those receiving it by prescription until Nov. 1, 2024.
This should have allowed individuals receiving the treatment the opportunity to work with their health care provider to determine the next phase of their treatment and care plan. The Alzheimer's Association recommends that anyone who had been receiving the treatment and has not yet spoken with their personal health care provider do so immediately.
Donanemab (Kisunla™) and lecanemab (Leqembi®) are the two currently available amyloid-targeting treatments for people living with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. Individuals living with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s or the mild dementia stage of Alzheimer's disease may be eligible to switch to one of these treatments.