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Biogen is once again under fire for its controversial new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, but this time because of an ad campaign.
The Massachusetts-based drug maker has been accused of misleading potential patients and over-marketing Aduhelm with an online survey which critics say stokes fear that signs of normal age-related mental decline – including forgetting a word or getting lost – could be indicative of dementia.
It is the latest controversy for the drug, which, in the time since its approval on June 7, three members of an advisory board have stepped down and the FDA has asked for an investigation into its own agency communications leading up to the drug’s approval.
The online quiz published by Biogen and Eisai, a Japanese company which is co-promoting the drug, asks questions regarding a person’s cognitive health.
Even when a person answers that they ‘never’ experience any symptoms of cognitive decline, the quiz still recommends that a person talk to their doctor about a cognitive screening.
‘Here are your responses to the Know Your Symptoms Quiz. Even if you answered “Never” or “Almost Never” to all questions, it’s important to stay on top of your cognitive health. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have and ask if cognitive screening is right for you,’ the quiz says on the final screen.
It also includes a downloadable ‘Doctor Discussion Guide’ and a link to a page that assists in finding patients a cognitive specialist.
The landing page of the online survey after a participant answers ‘never’ to each question. The page recommends a person to talk to their doctor despite not showing symptoms of cognitive decline
A screen shot of the first page ‘Doctor Discussion Guide’ provided by the website. It is a two page document
In an op-ed published in the Baltimore Sun, Dr Adriane Fugh-Berman, a pharmacology professor at Georgetown University, accused Biogen of attempting to persuade adults that they have a cognitive issue.
‘Biogen may be trying to persuade adults who occasionally misplace their keys that they not only have Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), but that MCI is an early form of Alzheimer’s disease,’ she wrote.
Dr Adriane Fugh-Berman (pictured) slammed Biogen for trying to persuade adults they are experiencing cognitive decline
‘A review of medical literature suggests neither statement is true, and Biogen failed to provide any supporting information when we asked for it. In fact, there is no standardization in diagnosing MCI,’ she added
‘… MCI is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, but it is not necessarily Alzheimer’s, and it does not usually lead to Alzheimer’s.’
‘It’s particularly egregious because they are trying to convince people with either normal memories or normal age-related decline that they are ill and they need a drug,’ she added.
The controversy arises as the medical community seems to be already losing faith in the drug’s effectiveness.
Two major U.S. health systems will not be administering the drug to patients.
The Cleveland Clinic, one of the most well-respected systems in the country, and Mount Sinai, a New York City-based system, both said they will not prescribe patients the drug due to a potential investigation into the drug’s FDA approval.
The Cleveland Clinic (pictured) and Mount Sinai will not administer the newly approved Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, after its controversial FDA approval
Aduhelm received FDA approval despite two failed clinical trials, and limited proof that the drug worked
In a statement, the Cleveland Clinic said it ‘had reviewed all available scientific evidence on this medication
‘Based on the current data regarding its safety and efficacy, we have decided not to carry aducanumab at this time,’ the statement read.
Doctors at the hospital will be able to prescribe Aduhelm to patients, but they will have to go elsewhere to receive the drug.
Mount Sinai said it decision to not administer the drug came after the news of the FDA investigation.
‘Aduhelm will not be considered for infusion into patients on any of its campuses until and unless [an investigation by the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services,] affirms the integrity of the FDA-Biogen relationship and goes on to reaffirm [the basis for the FDA’s approval],’ Dr Sam Gandy, director of the Mount Sinai Center for Cognitive Health, wrote in an email to the New York Times.
Blue Cross Blue Shield, a health insurer that covers 62 million people across the country, also announced that they do not plan to cover the drug.
Biogen responded to the hospitals’ decision by standing by its drug.
‘Biogen continues to stand 100 percent behind Aduhelm and the clinical data that supported approval,’ Biogen, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, wrote in an email to the Times.
‘If any patient is denied access to care, we encourage them to contact us for help as we remain committed to supporting access to Aduhelm for all appropriate patients.’
The FDA is also beginning to show doubts in their own approval of the drug.
Earlier this month, the agency revised their label of the drug, now only recommending it to people in the early stages of the condition or with a mild case of Alzheimer’s.
It was previously recommended to all Alzheimer’s patients.
Dr Janet Woodcock, commissioner of the FDA, even asked for the Office of the Inspector General to investigate communications between her staff and Biogen employees in the lead up to the drug’s approval.
The Cleveland Clinic cites this investigation as reason for not wanting to deploy the drug.
Biogen launched two clinical trials for Aduhelm in 2016.
Both were stopped midway because researchers concluded that neither trial would end up reaching its goal.
Later, the company revealed updated data from the second study showed patients had 22 percent decrease in speed of their cognitive decline.
It also showed that Aduhelm could remove amyloid beta plaques on the brain.
Some believe the removal of these plaques can stop cognitive decline, which would make the drug the only available Alzheimer’s treatment to do so.
Others criticize Biogen for pulling data from a failed trial, and do not interpret the company’s data in the same way.
Biogen stand by its drug. The company will charge $56,000 for a year of treatment using Aduhelm
Dr David Knopman, a neurologist with the Mayo Clinic, published an analysis of Biogen’s data in November, where he disagrees with the companies conclusions on the drug’s effectiveness.
Knopman was on the FDA advisory committee that voted 10-0 against approving the drug, and he later resigned in protest of the drug’s approval.
A survey of neurologists by Spherix Global Insights found that neurologists only believe the drug is adequate for use in one-in-seven Alzheimer’s patients.
‘Regardless of pent up patient demand, expansion of the Aduhelm prescriber base will likely be slower than typically seen with other launches in the neurology market – as less than half of neurologists believe they will become adopters within the first six months of availability,’ Spherix wrote in a release.
Aduhelm has also received criticism for its large price tag.
Biogen has set a $56,000 price tag for a year of treatment.
A nonprofit think tank focused on drug pricing pegged the drug’s actual value at between $3,000 and $8,400 per year.
Two congressional committees have launched investigations into the price of the drug and the large price tag it could cost Medicare.
An analysis published by the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that if just 500,000 Medicare recipients are prescribed Aduhelm, it would cost Medicare nearly $29 billion a year, far more than any other medication.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched their formal process to decide whether or not the agency will cover the drug earlier this week.
A final decision will likely not be made until Spring 2021.
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