The FDA has issued full approval for the Alzheimer's drug Leqembi, but a UC neuroscientist tells NBC News he questions the drug's safety.
"The odds for brain swelling and hemorrhage are far higher than any actual improvement," Alberto Espay, a professor of neurology and rehabilitative medicine and member of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, told NBC News.
According to the article, in its approval, the FDA included its strongest warning label - called a boxed warning - about these particular side effects, noting that they can lead to seizures and death. In addition, before starting the drug, patients should undergo genetic testing to better understand their risk for these side effects.
Espay, a leading Alzheimer's researcher, launched a petition in June calling for this Alzheimer's treatment to not get full approval and has created a "Visual Guide to the Consumer" warning on his Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
"No one is a good candidate for this therapy," Espay said in response to the article, adding "the risks outweigh the (non-existent) benefits."
The NBC News article has been syndicated to multiple media outlets, including Salon and Yahoo News.
Featured image at top of Alberto Espay by UC Creative + Brand.
