NHS patients denied new Alzheimer’s drugs
News
Quang Tran
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On 19 June 2025
People with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in England and Wales will not get NHS access to the first two medicines proven to slow down the disease, after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) rejected the drugs.
Lecanemab and donanemab do not cure Alzheimer’s, but they slow it down by targeting and clearing clumps of amyloid proteins, which build up in the brains of people with the disease.
The two drugs are approved as medicines in the UK, which means they can be prescribed, but last year were provisionally rejected by NICE for use on the NHS in England and Wales. After a further two committee meetings, today NICE upheld its earlier decisions – ruling that neither drug has a high enough benefit to justify the cost of funding it on the NHS.
Explaining the judgement made by the committee that evaluated lecanemab and donanemab, NICE’s Director of Medicines Evaluation Helen Knight said it recognised the hope offered by the drugs and that any slowing of Alzheimer’s disease would be meaningful for people taking them.
But she added: “The committee concluded the small benefits to patients shown in the clinical trials and the lack of long-term evidence of effectiveness balanced with the substantial resources the NHS would need to commit to the treatments would be too great and could displace other essential treatments and services that deliver substantial benefits to patients.”
Now, lecanemab and donanemab will only be available for those who can afford to pay privately, putting them out of reach of thousands of people who could benefit.
Alzheimer’s Research UK Chief Executive Hilary Evans-Newton said that while perhaps not surprising, today’s news is “a painful setback for people affected by Alzheimer’s”, who now face a long wait for innovative treatments, unless they can pay privately for lecanemab or donanemab.
Recent medicines news revealed there are now over 30 Alzheimer’s drugs in late-stage trials around the world. But Alzheimer’s Research UK is worried that unless the Government steps in to work with NICE and others, people with Alzheimer’s will continue to miss out “not because science is failing, but because the system is.”
The charity called for lecanemab and donanemab to be trialled in selective hospital pilots, in order to gather more information on how the drugs work in the real world, as well as what the NHS needs to do to prepare itself to roll out new drugs in the future.
Experts have also warned that without better access to early and accurate diagnosis in the NHS, many people who could benefit from drugs in the future could miss out. One in three people with dementia in England are living without a diagnosis.
“Alongside piloting, urgent investment in diagnostic services is also vital if we are to give people a fair chance at the vast progress dementia research is making,” Evans-Newton added.
One Alzheimer’s Research UK supporter who has seen a real benefit from taking donanemab is David Radford. David was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s in 2022 and then joined a clinical trial, where he received infusions of donanemab for 18 months.
He is now enjoying his retirement and spending time with his family, and is grateful that donanemab has kept his Alzheimer’s symptoms stable. He has told Alzheimer’s Research UK that taking the drug has felt “like a second chance”.
Commenting on today’s news, David said: “It doesn’t feel fair. Everyone should have the same opportunity I had – to get an early and accurate diagnosis, join a trial, and benefit from the latest treatments.”
If you have questions about lecanemab or donanemab and how to access the drugs in the UK, you can call us on 0300 111 5 111 (9.00-5.00pm Monday to Friday – excluding bank holidays) or email infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org.
About the author
Quang Tran
intersting
Such a shame ,I hope Scottish NHS approve those medicines.
Hi Terry, thanks for your comment. Sadly, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has already rejected donanemab last month. We understand that this is disappointing, and you can read more about how the SMC came to their decision here: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/news/scotland-says-no-to-second-alzheimers-drug-donanemab/. If you need localised support, please contact Alzheimer Scotland: https://www.alzscot.org/
I have contacted the government yesterday about it. I personally think its disgusting that these people have worked all their lives and then they get no help from the government.
I was diagnosed last year with alzheimer’s, I was 61 and devastated…but you have to carry on with life and I won’t give up.
I am also do the trials up in London and its nice to talk to people in the same situation it keeps you going.
I will not give up and I will try my hardest to help us get these new drugs on nhs.
Hi Nicola, I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Thank you immensely for all you do. It’s people like you who will help safe and effective treatments reach the people who need them.
I will stand up and try my hardest to get something done.
Hi Anne, thank you for your comment. There are certainly two sides to this discussion, and we completely understand that NICE’s decision is disappointing.
Ultimately, the costs associated with lecanemab and donanemab aren’t just to do with offering the drug. They would also require the way the NHS diagnoses dementia to be entirely overhauled. We’re hopeful that advancements in diagnosis over the next few years in the form of blood tests will bring accurate, cost-effective testing to many more people and open up avenues to new treatments in the NHS.
Find out more: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/news/new-alzheimers-treatment-lecanemab-makes-the-headlines-whats-next/
Yes, I have alzeimas and would so love to have the drugs which would help me to live well. Physically I am fit so it is sad I can’t afford the pills which would be helpful. The Government needs to help us.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis. There are still trials recruiting into one of the drugs, donanemab. Recruitment ends in August 2025. You can find out whether you’d be suitable by signing up to NHS matching service Join Dementia Research at joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk or call us on 0300 111 5111 to register by phone.
My husband was diagnosed just after lockdown and started on Memantine and to be fair he is not that much worse since he went on it and is calmer in himself. We are happy for him to continue on this but would appreciate feedback on the latest drugs when trialled further
Hi Jennifer, thanks for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about your husband, but glad to hear that memantine is working for him. You can sign up for regular updates from Alzheimer’s Research UK at the bottom of this page.
Additionally, if you ever have any specific questions, you can contact the Dementia Research Infoline on 0300 111 5111 or email infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org
I can understand the disappointment, but NICE has to place these new drugs in the context of the NHS as a whole. I trust NICE to get the balance right – and I trust charities such as Alzheimer’s Research UK to play a full role in informing the deliberations of NICE and, if appropriate, highlighting decisions that they believe NICE has got wrong. Does Alzheimer’s Research UK consider that the process followed by NICE here is lacking? Have they misinterpreted evidence or not obtained and studied appropriate evidence?
Hi Stephen, thanks for your comment. At Alzheimer’s Research UK, our job is to make sure that, alongside the evidence gathered from clinical trials, the voices of people who live with, care for, or treat people with dementia are at the heart of NHS decision making. We are continuing to work hard to ensure NICE considers the full scale of dementia’s impact, and the true potential benefits of drugs like lecanemab and donanemab in alleviating the harm and heartbreak of the condition.
Licensing these new, disease-modifying drugs on the NHS would require a complete overhaul of how dementia is diagnosed, monitored and treated. https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/news/new-alzheimers-treatment-lecanemab-makes-the-headlines-whats-next/
I ;osy my hubby in April 2024 after 5 years from mild cognative impairement to full on Alzheimers. How much do thes 2 drugs cost because people should have the choice of paying or at least paying something towards it if there is any chance of an improvement.
Hi Sandra, thank you for your question. I’m sorry to hear about your husband. There are a couple of private healthcare organisations that offer lecanemab and donanemab infusions at an estimated cost £60,000 to £80,000 per year. Costs may differ between providers and its important to note that the drugs aren’t suitable for everyone.
Hi I suffer from early on set dementia does this come under the category of alzemiers. No one has really explained to me the difference can you help
Hi Jill, thank you for your question. Dementia isn’t a disease itself, it’s caused by different physical diseases of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Young onset dementia is diagnosed when the person is under the age of 65. It can be caused by diseases such as young onset Alzheimer’s and young onset vascular dementia. We have more information on our webpage here https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/types-of-dementia/young-onset-dementia/