The British agency says Alzheimer's drug donanemab is not cost-effective

LONDON – For the second time in a few months, Britain's cost-effectiveness regulator has said the limited benefits of a newly approved Alzheimer's drug do not justify its cost, threatening the possibility of the drug reaching patients.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said in draft guidance released Wednesday that the drug, Eli Lilly's donanemab, is “not currently considered good value for taxpayers” given the “relatively small benefit” it provides and the cost of the drug can be”. This includes not only the price of the drug, but also the cost of administering it as a monthly infusion and monitoring any known side effects of the drug.

In the United States, the list price for donanemab, approved as Kisunla, is about $32,000 a year, but in the United Kingdom, health authorities and drugmakers typically negotiate lower prices for treatments offered through the National Health Service. Patients should take Kisunla for up to 18 months.