Aduhelm (Aducanumab) for Alzheimer’s

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on July 01, 2024
Written by Rachel Reiff Ellis, Evan Starkman
3 min read

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) is a discontinued drug for Alzheimer’s disease with mild cognitive impairment. It’s a monoclonal antibody that works by removing amyloid proteins – substances that build up and form plaques when you have Alzheimer’s – from your brain. 

The FDA approved it faster than usual -- and against the recommendation of its own advisory panel. That led some medical experts to question whether more research was needed about the drug’s safety and effectiveness.

The drug was discontinued by the manufacturer in 2024.

Here’s a look at what Aduhelm does, its side effects, costs, and more.

Both aducanumab and lecanemab (Leqembi) are monoclonal antibodies you get by IV infusion that target amyloid proteins in the brain to remove them. They work differently by targeting beta-amyloid at different stages of plaque formation.

The FDA approved lecanemab in July 2023. Large studies have shown lecanemab slowed the rate of disease progression by about 20%-30% after 18 months of treatment in those with early Alzheimer’s symptoms. 

It’s a drug that you get once a month through a needle in a vein (IV) as an infusion. 

Aduhelm targets a key sign of Alzheimer’s disease: plaques of a protein called amyloid-beta, which builds up in the brain and can lead to the death of brain cells.

When Aduhelm attaches itself to amyloid-beta plaques, your body’s defenses respond by getting rid of them. Scientists think this might keep brain cells from dying and stop your memory and thinking from getting worse.

Two large studies looked into Aduhelm’s effectiveness. Both showed that Aduhelm lowered the number of beta-amyloid plaques. One found that high doses of the drug slightly slowed -- but didn’t stop or reverse -- problems with thinking, memory, and the ability to function. The other study didn’t show a benefit and was stopped early.

That one successful study wasn’t enough to win over the FDA advisory panel, but the agency decided to move forward. It gave Biogen, the company that makes Aduhelm, 9 years to confirm the drug’s possible benefit in a “post-approval” study.

The FDA launched an investigation into its decision-making process because of concerns about the drug’s fast approval. And some hospital systems decided they wouldn’t give Aduhelm to patients until there was more research to show it was safe and effective. 

Some side effects of Aduhelm are:

Aducanumab can cost about $28,200 per year, along with other fees for things like imaging scans and blood tests.

Biogen announced in January 2024 that it would no longer make aducanumab. The decision was not based on safety or efficacy concerns, but instead so that the company could “reprioritize its resources in Alzheimer's disease.”  

Aducanumab was no longer available to people taking it as part of a clinical trial in May 2024. People taking it by prescription will no longer be able to get it after Nov. 1, 2024. 

Aducanumab is an Alzheimer's drug targeting amyloid plaques in the brain to slow progression of the disease. In 2021, the FDA fast-tracked its approval, and experts questioned its effectiveness as a result. One study showed that it was mildly effective in slowing the disease but did not stop it. Other studies did not show a difference in people taking the drug. In 2024, Biogen, the drug’s manufacturer, discontinued the production of aducanumab.

Is aducanumab still FDA approved?

Yes. Although the manufacturer discontinued it in 2024, the FDA approval still stands. 

Why was aducanumab discontinued?

Biogen, the company that makes the drug, announced that it would shift its resources to other Alzheimer’s drugs in 2024 and will stop making aducanumab. The decision was not based on safety or efficacy issues. Prescription aducanumab will no longer be available after Nov. 1, 2024. 

Who is a good candidate for Aduhelm?

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) won’t be available for Alzheimer’s treatment after Nov. 1, 2024. Previously, the drug was prescribed and used in clinical trials of people living with early Alzheimer’s disease, including people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or mild dementia. The goal of treatment with the drug was to slow down cognitive decline in early stages of the disease.