PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For the first time since 2003, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Millions of people, including 59-year old Phil Gutis, live with Alzheimer's disease.
He's a board member of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and has been part of the clinical trial of Aduhelm (aducanumab) for five years.
For him, this is a huge milestone.
"It's very hard to know where I would be in the disease process without aducanumab," he said.
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"But I can tell you I feel better these days. My head feels clearer, and I feel I can tackle projects a little better than I was able to."
The drug targets the amyloid beta plaque, which is found in the brain's of patients with Alzheimer's.
"The amyloid proteins that are believed to build up in your brain and cause Alzheimer's are no longer present, and that's a huge benefit," Gutis said.
"I think the drug has helped me a lot in slowing the progression of the disease."
The FDA issued an accelerated approval pathway, and more studies on the drug must be completed.
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