Alzheimer’s drug that showed significant difference in early trials approved for use in Canada – CTV
May 04, 2026
A drug that may slow progression of dementia in some patients has been approved for use in Canada, the manufacturer announced.
Donanemab is the “first and only amyloid plaque-targeting therapy with evidence supporting stopping treatment once amyloid plaques are cleared,” Eli Lilly Canada Inc. said in a statement announcing the approval Monday.
Clumps of the protein amyloid may lead to cognitive and memory problems typically linked to Alzheimer’s, the drugmaker said. Donanemab helps the body remove this buildup.
The drug was already approved by the United States and European Union and sold under the name Kisunla.
The monthly treatment is now available for some Canadians with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, Eli Lilly Canada said.
‘This drug is not a cure’
Early research on the drug was promising for some, with nearly half of participants showing no clinical progression of dementia in the first year of use, the Canadian organization Alzheimer Society wrote in a previous update on the approval process.
