FDA Approves Aricept For Treatment of Severe Alzheimer's Disease

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) for the treatment of severe dementia in patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Aricept had previously been approved for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Aricept has now become the first drug approved for the treatment of all degrees of severity of the disease. FDA approval is based on two additional randomized, placebo-controlled, 24-week clinical studies conducted in Sweden and Japan in more than 500 patients with severe Alzheimer's Disease. The studies showed that Aricept was effective and 'performed better' than a placebo. Memory, orientation, attention and overall functioning improved.

Aricept is manufactured by Eisai Inc.

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