Alzheimer's breakthrough signals game changer for biotech sector

The accelerated approval of the first new Alzheimer's treatment in almost two decades looks set to drive a new wave of biotech innovation and investment.

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that affects memory and other cognitive abilities. Globally, around 50 million people suffer from dementia; there are almost 10 million new cases annually - and Alzheimer's is the most common form. However, a significant development in the battle against the disease occurred in June, when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aducanumab, a drug to be sold under the brand name Aduhelm, which targets what many believe is the underlying cause of Alzheimer's, rather than its symptoms. The treatment, developed by neuroscience giant Bio...