Newz Desk, Durgapur: In a major development for dementia care, India is set to welcome a next-generation Alzheimer’s drug that targets the disease at its source—something existing treatments have so far failed to do. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has granted approval to donanemab, a monoclonal antibody therapy developed by US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly.
Marketed under the brand name Kinsula, the drug is expected to be available in India by early 2026. While pricing details have not been disclosed, the medicine is likely to be expensive, as is typical for monoclonal antibody therapies.
Why the Drug Is Being Called “Breakthrough”
Unlike conventional Alzheimer’s treatments that only slow symptoms such as memory loss or behavioural decline, donanemab works by clearing beta-amyloid plaques—the protein deposits in the brain that have long been identified as the root cause of the disease. After Japan’s lecanemab, donanemab becomes the second third-generation Alzheimer’s drug in the world to receive regulatory approval.
Clinical trials involving 1,736 participants showed promising outcomes. Over a period of 76 weeks, donanemab reduced cognitive decline by 35.1% among patients in the early stages of the disease. The drug is administered once every four weeks as an intravenous infusion—700 mg for the first three doses and 1,400 mg thereafter.
Eli Lilly India president Winselow Tucker described the approval as a “milestone” for millions of Indian families affected by Alzheimer’s. “Our focus is to help patients retain their cognitive abilities for as long as possible, giving them and their caregivers more time and an improved quality of life,” he said.
Doctors Stress Early Diagnosis
Neurologists have welcomed the move but cautioned that the drug is effective only in the initial stages of Alzheimer’s. Once dementia becomes advanced, donanemab offers limited benefit. Experts therefore emphasise early screening, especially as India’s elderly population rises sharply.
Side Effects and Risks
The trials also revealed some serious side effects. The most notable was Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA)—a condition in which blood vessels near the amyloid deposits swell or bleed. Brain swelling was detected in 24% of trial participants, while 19.7% experienced minor brain haemorrhages. Three deaths during the trial were also linked to treatment complications.
Dr. Hardik Rajyaguru – renowned Brain & Spine Surgeon in Durgapur said ‘ medicine is a crucial component of a holistic care plan for Alzheimer’s patients, primarily to manage symptoms, slow cognitive decline, and improve quality of life for both patients and caregivers.’
Despite these concerns, specialists believe the drug’s arrival in India represents a significant step forward, especially in a country where dementia cases are projected to rise steeply. India currently has an estimated 5.3 million dementia patients, a number expected to soar to 14 million by 2050 due to rapid population ageing.
In the United States, the annual treatment cost for donanemab is around $32,000, raising concerns over affordability in India. Eli Lilly has yet to announce Indian pricing.
Image courtesy@internet
