Donanemab and another new drug for Alzheimer’s called Lecanemab have been billed as a huge step forward in research

A new Alzheimer’s drug has been rejected for widespread use in the health service in England after the health spending watchdog said it “does not currently demonstrate value for the NHS”.The news comes as the UK’s medicines regulator said donanemab could be licensed for use in the UK.

For the second time in recent months, a U.K. agency said the limited benefits of a new Alzheimer’s drug do not justify its costs.

The most effective drug for Alzheimer’s has been blocked for use on the NHS. Regulators have declared the new treatment for the disease safe for use but the rationing body has immediately ruled that it is too expensive for NHS patients.

A wife whose husband will not be eligible for new Alzheimer’s drugs has implored health leaders to ensure that others like him will be able to access treatments. New disease-modifying Alzheimer’s drugs work best when they are given to patients in the early stages of disease.

Regulator cited significant uncertainties about the drug’s benefits, as well as the high costs to treat its severe side effects.

Eli Lilly's treatment for early Alzheimer's was deemed too expensive for wide use by UK's cost-effectiveness body on Wednesday, signalling that patients are unlikely to get access following approval by the country's medicines regulator.

A new drug that slows the pace of Alzheimer's disease is too expensive for too little benefit to be used on the NHS, the watchdog says.