--- title: "Understanding Donanemab: The Alzheimer's Drug That's Making Waves" description: Donanemab significantly slowed cognitive and functional decline in phase 3 study of early Alzheimer's disease. image: https://atrinews.usc.edu/hubfs/iStock-1316201778.jpg --- [![3L_USC-EFATRI_Card-Blk_RGB](https://atrinews.usc.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/3L_USC-EFATRI_Card-Blk_RGB.png?width=2000&name=3L_USC-EFATRI_Card-Blk_RGB.png)](https://atri.usc.edu/) - About - [Mission and Vision](https://atri.usc.edu/about/#top) - [ATRI Leadership](https://atri.usc.edu/about/#leadership) - [Timeline](https://atri.usc.edu/timeline/) - [Careers](https://usccareers.usc.edu/location/san-diego-jobs/1728-1209/6252001-5332921-5391811/4) - Research - Clinical Trials - [Groups](https://atri.usc.edu/groups/) - [Studies](https://atri.usc.edu/studies/) - [Site Locations](https://atri.usc.edu/site-locations/) - [Participate](https://atri.usc.edu/take-action/) - [Basic Science](https://atri.usc.edu/ntrd/) - Education - [Student Summer Research Program](https://atri.usc.edu/student-summer-research-program/) - People - [Our People](https://atri.usc.edu/our-people/) - [Leadership & Faculty](https://atri.usc.edu/our-people/#leadership-faculty) - [Team Leads](https://atri.usc.edu/our-people/#team-leads) - [Teams](https://atri.usc.edu/our-people/#teams) - Resources - [News](https://atrinews.usc.edu) - [Events Calendar](https://atri.usc.edu/events/) - [Resource Library](https://atrinews.usc.edu/resources) [Take action](https://atri.usc.edu/take-action/) article # Understanding Donanemab: The Alzheimer's Drug That's Making Waves ![](https://atrinews.usc.edu/hubfs/iStock-1316201778.jpg) ++++++++++++++++ Eli Lilly and Company has [announced](https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-donanemab-significantly-slowed-cognitive-and-functional) that its investigational drug, [donanemab,](https://atrinews.usc.edu/a4studyresults) has shown positive results in a Phase 3 clinical trial called TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2. The study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of donanemab, a therapy that targets amyloid plaques, in people with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. The primary endpoint of the study measured cognitive and functional decline using the Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (iADRS), which includes tasks such as managing finances, driving, engaging in hobbies, and conversing about current events. Donanemab met the primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints, showing significant clinical benefits. Participants who received donanemab had a 35% slower decline in cognition and activities of daily living compared to those who received a placebo. Additionally, participants had a 40% less decline in their ability to perform activities of daily living and a 39% lower risk of progressing to the next stage of the disease compared to those who received a placebo. Although the drug had side effects, including temporary swelling and microhemorrhages in some areas of the brain, these cases were mild to moderate and resolved or stabilized with appropriate management. Eli Lilly and Company will proceed with global regulatory submissions to make donanemab available as soon as possible. Dr. Paul Aisen spoke briefly about donanemab in his conversation for [World Alzheimer's Day last year](https://atrinews.usc.edu/world-alzheimers-day-aisen-transcript). You can watch the entire conversation [here](https://atri.usc.edu/video/atri-world-alzheimers-day-event-2022/). ## Related Resources [View All Resources ![](https://7222284.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7222284/Group%2043.svg)](https://atrinews.usc.edu/resources) #### [Down syndrome in the New Era for Alzheimer’s disease](https://atrinews.usc.edu/resources/down-syndrome-in-a-new-era-for-alzheimer-disease) article #### [World Alzheimer's Day 2024 Webinar](https://atrinews.usc.edu/resources/world-alzheimers-day-webinar-2024) Video #### [Advancing Alzheimer’s Research: Elizabeth Shaffer on the Role of Regulatory Affairs](https://atrinews.usc.edu/resources/lthe-role-of-regulatory-affairs-in-advancing-alzheimers-research-with-elizabeth-shaffer) podcast [View All Resources ![](https://7222284.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7222284/Group%2043.svg)](https://atrinews.usc.edu/resources) [![trimmed3_3L_USC-EFATRI_Card-Blk_RGB](https://atrinews.usc.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/trimmed3_3L_USC-EFATRI_Card-Blk_RGB.png?width=200&height=63&name=trimmed3_3L_USC-EFATRI_Card-Blk_RGB.png)](https://atri.usc.edu/)   9860 Mesa Rim Road, San Diego, CA 92121 ATRI-info@atri.usc.edu Phone: (858) 964-4644 Fax: (858) 622-1904 [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alzheimer-s-therapeutic-research-institute/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/ATRI_USC) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/USCATRI) - [Contact](https://atri.usc.edu/contact/) - [Take Action](https://atri.usc.edu/take-action/) - [Directory](https://atri.usc.edu/our-people/) - [Digital Accessibility](https://accessibility.usc.edu/accessibility-at-usc/digital-accessibility/) ## Sign up for our Newsletter ### Stay up to date with the latest news in Alzheimer’s therapeutics. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "ATRI", "url" : "https://atrinews.usc.edu/resources/author/atri" }, "dateModified" : "2024-05-20T15:38:23.440Z", "datePublished" : "2023-05-22T20:46:59.000Z", "headline" : "Understanding Donanemab: The Alzheimer's Drug That's Making Waves", "image" : [ "https://atrinews.usc.edu/hubfs/iStock-1316201778.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://atrinews.usc.edu/resources/donanemab-significantly-slowed-cognitive-and-functional-decline", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://atrinews.usc.edu/hubfs/trimmed2_3L_USC-EFATRI_Card-Blk_RGB-1.png" }, "name" : "USC ATRI" } } ```