Alzheimer's drug breakthrough 阿爾茨海默病治療藥物獲重大突破

新試驗發現首個減緩阿爾茨海默病對患者大腦損傷的藥物，這個名為 “lecanemab” 的藥物 “意義重大”。這項試驗的結果為此領域幾十年的高失敗率畫上句號，並表明用藥物治療阿爾茨海默病（最常見的失智癥）的新時代並非遙不可及。

News of the first drug that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s has been called historic and prompted huge excitement among researchers and charities. The manufacturer said it would be filing for regulatory approval in January and hope lecanemab may be available from September in the UK.

首個能減緩阿爾茨海默病病程的藥物的試驗結果被稱為是 “有歷史意義的”，這個消息轟動瞭業界的研究人員和慈善機構。該藥物的制造商表示將於明年1月向監管機構提交申請，並希望 lecanemab 能從明年9月起在英國上市。

Lecanemab is a monoclonal antibody. These are costly to produce in the lab, so will inevitably be an expensive product. It is only suitable for those with early-stage Alzheimer’s, but few patients in the UK have the confirmatory diagnostic test needed to show they could benefit from the drug. So, its use could be very limited at first, and patients will have to be carefully monitored for side effects.

Lecanemab 是一種單克隆抗體。在實驗室生產該抗體的成本很高，因此它必將是一種昂貴的藥品。該藥隻適用於治療早期阿爾茨海默病的患者，但在英國，很少有患者有證實性診斷測試結果，表明他們能從這種藥物中獲益。因此，起初該藥物的使用可能非常有限，而且研究人員必須仔細監測服藥對患者身體產生的副作用。

詞匯表

historic 具有歷史意義的
regulatory approval 監管批準
monoclonal 單克隆的
antibody 抗體
inevitably 必然地，不可避免地
confirmatory 證實性的
diagnostic test 診斷測試
side effects 副作用

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。

1. How might the drug lecanemab help sufferers of Alzheimer’s?

2. Where might this drug be available from next September?

3. Are there any financial concerns about this drug?

4. Why might the use of this drug be limited at first?

答案

1. How might the drug lecanemab help sufferers of Alzheimer’s?
This new drug can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

2. Where might this drug be available from next September?
It’s hoped lecanemab may be available from next September in the UK.

3. Are there any financial concerns about this drug?
The drug is costly to produce in the lab, so will inevitably be an expensive product.

4. Why might the use of this drug be limited at first?
The drug is only suitable for those with early-stage Alzheimer’s, but few patients in the UK have the confirmatory diagnostic test needed to show they could benefit from the drug.