A New Era of Alzheimer's Treatment Brings Hope for Canadian Families
Via CTV News
October 13, 2025
Newly approved Alzheimer's treatments brings optimism for Canadians
Across Canada, families and researchers alike are encouraged by two groundbreaking Alzheimer’s therapies, lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla), that have shown strong results in slowing the progression of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
With research shifting beyond symptom management to drug therapies that aim to change the course of the disease itself, this marks a significant pivot.
The science behind these treatments
Both Leqembi and Kisunla belong to a new class of therapies known as anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies. These drugs work by identifying and removing amyloid plaques (abnormal protein buildups that disrupt brain cell communication and are closely linked to cognitive decline).
By clearing these plaques, researchers have found that the treatments can slow cognitive and functional decline by approximately 30% in people treated during the earliest stages of the disease. Clinical trial participants receiving these therapies maintained independence longer, experienced fewer declines in daily activities, and showed measurable improvements in brain imaging scans.
Leqembi, developed by Eisai and Biogen, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023 following extensive global trials. Similarly, Kisunla, developed by Eli Lilly, received FDA approval in 2024 and is showing comparable success. Both drugs are administered intravenously and require regular monitoring through MRI scans to track potential side effects such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA).
Despite these monitoring requirements, experts agree that the benefits mark a major step forward. These are the first Alzheimer’s therapies proven to modify the disease process rather than simply mask symptoms, something researchers have been working toward for decades.
With approval already granted in more than 40 countries, including the United States, Australia, and Japan, the global research community is increasingly optimistic that these innovations will pave the way for more accessible treatments in the near future.
A growing commitment to progress in Canada
Canadian researchers, clinicians, and advocates continue to play an important role in the global effort to make these therapies accessible. Institutions like Sunnybrook Hospital and organizations such as the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) are working to ensure that once these drugs are approved, Canada will be ready to deliver them safely and equitably.
Experts emphasize that access to these treatments must go hand in hand with early detection and prevention. Advances in brain imaging, biomarker testing, and blood-based diagnostics are making it possible to identify Alzheimer’s disease much earlier, when therapies like Leqembi and Kisunla are most effective.
This integrated approach in combining innovative drugs, early diagnosis, and healthy lifestyle interventions, reflects a new era in Alzheimer’s care focused on prevention, personalized medicine, and hope.