An All-Out War on Alzheimer's at NIH

Additionally, private insurers may see little financial incentive to cover it [aducanumab] for people in their 50s or early 60s, when the anticipated savings is from preventing hospitalizations or nursing home placements in later years — which are mostly paid for by Medicare and Medicaid.

These dynamics give Alzheimer’s specialists pause when reflecting on whether aducanumab or a similar treatment would truly change the game.

“A drug that’s very expensive, with measurable but minimal benefits and notable risks, presents a challenging combination, especially when the disease in question is extremely prevalent,” says Jason Karlawish, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Alzheimer’s disease center. “Add into this mix the lack of an effective workforce to prescribe the drug and things become rather concerning.”