Hilary Evans-Newton from Alzheimer’s Research UK warned that the rejection could undermine confidence in the UK as a hub for life sciences and innovation.

Despite this setback, ongoing trials for 138 other dementia medications worldwide indicate a continued search for effective treatments.

Professor Fiona Carragher from Alzheimer’s Society stressed the need for long-term investment in dementia diagnosis and treatment preparation, highlighting that the current health system is unprepared for new therapies.

The manufacturers are exploring reformulating lecanemab for subcutaneous administration, which may prompt a re-evaluation by NICE.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has officially rejected the use of two promising Alzheimer's drugs, donanemab and lecanemab, for NHS treatment, citing that their benefits are deemed 'too small' relative to their costs.

Despite their ability to slow disease progression, both drugs have been rejected due to serious side effects, leading to significant disappointment among patients and advocates.

NHS England estimates that between 50,000 and 280,000 patients could have benefited from these treatments if they had been approved, contingent upon specific diagnostic procedures to confirm Alzheimer's disease.

Pharmaceutical companies Eisai and Eli Lilly plan to appeal NICE's decision, expressing disappointment that these groundbreaking treatments are not accessible to NHS patients.

Helen Knight from NICE acknowledged the potential benefits of the drugs but emphasized that funding them could divert resources from other essential treatments that deliver more significant benefits.

Opinions among scientists and medical professionals are divided; while some view the drugs as significant advancements, others argue that the risks and costs outweigh the modest benefits.

Clinical trials indicated that donanemab could slow memory decline by over 20%, while lecanemab showed a 27% reduction in cognitive decline and up to a 56% improvement in quality of life, though both drugs carry serious side effects.

The estimated annual cost for these drugs ranges from £20,000 to £25,000 per patient, which NICE determined to be too high compared to their perceived benefits.