Main roads
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A new evidence review says recently approved drugs are not effective for Alzheimer’s disease
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The researchers concluded that the drugs provide no cognitive benefit and increase the risk of brain tumors and bleeding.
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The review included 17 clinical trials of both failed and approved anti-amyloid therapies
THURSDAY, April 16, 2026 (NewsDay News) – New anti-amyloid drugs approved for treatment Alzheimer’s disease do not have a positive clinical effect on patients, a major review of the evidence has concluded.
Drugs like Leqembi (Lecanemab) and Kinsul (donatemab) according to the published results Cochrane review.
These drugs target amyloid beta, a protein that forms toxic deposits in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.
“Unfortunately, the evidence shows that these drugs do not make a significant difference to patients,” said the lead researcher. Dr. Francesco Noninoneurologist and epidemiologist at the IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences in Bologna, Italy.
“There is now a convincing body of evidence to conclude that there is no clinically significant effect,” he said in a news release.
Both the Alzheimer’s Association and Leqembi’s maker, Eisai Inc., took issue with the review because it included data from failed anti-amyloid drugs alongside studies of drugs that have achieved U.S. government approval.
“The Cochrane meta-analysis is scientifically deeply flawed by inappropriately combining ineffective antibodies and failed studies with effective, regulatory-approved anti-amyloid therapies,” Eisai said in a statement.
“The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that lecanemab is part of a new generation of anti-amyloid therapies that target accumulated amyloid and have learned from previous failures,” Eisai said. “Extensive long-term clinical data spanning four years and real-world experience with tens of thousands of patients worldwide show that patients receiving lecanemab benefit from treatment.”
For the review, researchers analyzed data from 17 clinical trials involving more than 20,000 participants, all looking at how anti-amyloid drugs affect people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s.
Tests have tested its effectiveness aducanumabbapineuzumab, crenezumab, donanemab, gantenerumab, lecanemab, ponezumab, remternetug, and and solanezumab, according to reviews.
The researchers concluded that the absolute effect of anti-amyloid drugs on cognitive decline and dementia was “none or negligible,” well below the standard of clinical effectiveness.
“Although early trials showed results that were statistically significant, it is important to distinguish between this and clinical significance,” Nonino said. “It is common in trials to find statistically significant results that do not translate into a significant clinical difference for patients.”
Anti-amyloid drugs also likely increase the risk of dangerous swelling and bleeding in the brain, the team noted.
The drugs successfully remove amyloid from the brain, but this does not provide cognitive benefits for patients, the researchers said.
The team recommended that future Alzheimer’s research focus on targets other than beta-amyloid, as future trials targeting the protein are unlikely to provide a clear benefit to patients.
“I see Alzheimer’s patients every week in my clinic and I wish I had an effective treatment to offer them,” said the senior scientist. Edo Richardprofessor of neurology at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, said in a news release.
“Currently approved drugs offer benefit for some patients, but there remains an unmet need for more effective treatments. Unfortunately, anti-amyloid drugs do not offer this and carry additional risks,” said Richard. “Given the lack of correlation between amyloid removal and clinical benefit, we need to explore other ways to treat this devastating disease.”
Maria CarrilloThe Alzheimer’s Association’s chief science and medical affairs officer said the association “remains confident in the use of these therapies in a wide range of care settings.”
“In real-world clinical settings, including mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer’s patients, the ALZ-NET Association found that amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibodies have efficacy and safety very similar to what was reported in phase 3 clinical trials—a clinically significant slowing of disease progression,” she said.
Carrillo noted that multiple regulatory bodies around the world have approved treatments in this class based on “robust” clinical trial data showing significant and “clinically meaningful” slowing of decline in early Alzheimer’s patients.
“While, overall, we respect Cochrane’s role in reviewing the evidence, this analysis inappropriately includes a broader and less relevant set of studies,” Carrillo said.
“What’s missing from this analysis is that there’s a person behind every data point,” he said.
“Many people living with mild cognitive impairment and early-onset Alzheimer’s are taking trips they didn’t know they would make, spending fun time with friends and family, making plans for the next month, doing things they love and being present in their lives and the people they care about,” Carrillo said. “Their lives and experiences cannot be ignored. And they must not be cheated out of approved options based on limited evidence.”
More information
Northwell Health has more information anti-amyloid therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.
Sources: Cochrane, release, April 15, 2026; Eisai, statement, April 15, 2026; Maria Carrillo, chief science officer and director of the Alzheimer’s Association
What does this mean for you?
The debate over the effectiveness of new Alzheimer’s drugs continues, and a review of the evidence has concluded that the drugs have no real benefit for patients.
