Alzheimer’s disease set to cost $17 billion: Lilly urges government to keep pace with innovation

Pharma News: A newly commissioned report by Lilly, unveiled at Parliament House, has shed light on the health, societal, and economic burden Alzheimer’s disease revealing a concerning outlook for the nation’s health and aged care systems unless urgent action is taken.

The report, titled Diagnosis to Dignity – A Vision for Alzheimer’s Disease in Australia, developed in collaboration with leading medical experts and advocates, warns that the incidence of Alzheimer’s, the most common cause of dementia, is expected to double over the next 25 years in Australia.

“With an ageing population, Alzheimer’s disease will further challenge health and aged care systems. We can’t ignore this problem by burying our heads in the sand,” said Professor Michael Woodward AM, Director of the Aged Care and Memory Clinic at Austin Health and Honorary Medical Advisor for Dementia Australia.

“We can significantly reduce the impact of Alzheimer’s on individuals and society, but only if we act now to invest in healthy ageing,” he added. “It’s akin to where we were with cancer a few decades ago. Science is advancing at a rapid rate and will lead to entirely new ways to screen, detect, treat, and even prevent Alzheimer’s disease.”

Tori Brown, General Manager for Eli Lilly Australia and New Zealand, said “The report highlights a once-in-a-generation opportunity to act on Alzheimer’s disease. It’s good for patients, good for families and carers, good for the health and aged care systems, and good for the economy.

“Lilly has been at the forefront of Alzheimer’s disease research for more than 35 years, contributing to our understanding of this complex disease and how it can be treated and, ultimately, prevented. We echo the call for health system change to prepare for a new era of care when the first signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear.”

Traditionally, efforts in Alzheimer’s research by pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly and Biogen have centred around clearing the amyloid plaque. However, recent research from University of Queensland explored a different path. Instead of relying on microbubbles to open the blood-brain barrier, they solely utilised scanning ultrasound and observed memory enhancement.

Projections indicate that Australians living with dementia caused by Alzheimer’s will soar from 296,000 in 2024 to 600,000 by 2050. An additional 590,000 Australians are expected to have early signs of the disease, such as mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s pathology. Together, this will affect 1.2 million Australians at a projected economic cost of $17 billion by 2050.

Beyond the personal toll, the report reveals the far-reaching effects on Australian society, from the emotional and financial burdens placed on families and carers to the strain on the health and aged care systems and the economy.

Of note, the report highlights the impact on Australia’s workforce, finding that by 2024, one in five Australians over 60 with Alzheimer’s wants to continue working but cannot due to delayed diagnosis and lack of support. This affects 50,000 people, not including the wider toll on carers. Additionally, productivity losses tied to Alzheimer’s are estimated to reach $3.7 billion by 2024 – outpacing even the $2.4 billion cost of residential aged care, which has long been considered the biggest financial burden of the disease.

A silver lining is found in the report’s conclusion: improved care could delay entry into aged care for those with mild Alzheimer’s by 12 months, improving their quality of life by 25% and saving the Federal Government an estimated $40-48 million over four years.

The report points to advances in early diagnosis, with blood tests poised to detect specific biomarkers, allowing for earlier intervention and more targeted treatment. It also highlights the over 100 clinical trials underway globally, with new therapies already approved in other countries.

Liz de Somer, CEO of Medicines Australia, emphasised the need for Australia to step up. She said “It will require Australia to take the lead in providing access to early diagnosis, new and emerging treatments, and fit-for-purpose services to enable people with Alzheimer’s to live safely at home, contributing to society and engaging in the community. Thank you to all who brought this report to life and for charting the way forward.”

Brown concluded with a rallying call: “Now is the time for government, industry, researchers, clinicians, and advocates to work together to ensure Australia’s response to Alzheimer’s disease keeps pace with scientific innovation and the rest of the world.”

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