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Straits Times
a day ago
- Health
- Straits Times
What to know about 2 new Alzheimer's disease drugs approved in Singapore
Find out what's new on ST website and app. One factor that could stand in the way of wider acceptance of these drugs is their costliness. SINGAPORE – Tackling Alzheimer's disease in Singapore received a boost earlier in 2025, when the authorities approved two new drugs for the neurodegenerative disease. Although these drugs – lecanemab and donanemab – cannot cure or reverse the effects of Alzheimer's, they have been shown to slow the progression of the disease, which accounts for almost 70 per cent of dementia cases worldwide. Simply Science looks at what these drugs do, how effective they are, as well as the risks and costs. How do they work? The two new drugs are monoclonal antibodies, which are lab-produced proteins that mimic natural antibodies. They work by targeting and removing beta-amyloids – molecules that accumulate in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the brain – causing Alzheimer's disease. Lecanemab, which is marketed as Leqembi, is developed by pharmaceutical firms Eisai, Biogen and BioArctic. Donanemab, marketed as Lormalzi in Singapore and Kisunla in other countries, is developed by Eli Lilly. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Both are intravenous injections – lecanemab is administered every two weeks over about 1½ years, and donanemab is administered every four weeks over the same period. How effective are they? During clinical trials, both drugs demonstrated the ability to slow Alzheimer's disease. Findings from the clinical trial of lecanemab, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that it slowed decline for people with early Alzheimer's disease by about 27 per cent to 37 per cent. Meanwhile, results from donanemab's Phase 3 clinical trial, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that the drug slowed cognitive decline by about 20 per cent to 29 per cent. Eisai medical director Amitabh Dash said lecanemab differs from existing drugs, which treat symptoms and manage memory or behavioural issues only temporarily. 'It works by clearing these protofibrils and amyloid plaques, which are believed to contribute to the progression of the disease,' said Dr Dash. Protofibrils refer to protein aggregrates such as beta-amyloids. Lecanemab was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, and by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in Britain in 2024. Donanemab received FDA approval in 2024, and was also approved in Britain that year. In Singapore, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) confirmed that the two drugs had been approved for use earlier in 2025. 'They are prescription-only medicines, and the treatment should be initiated by a physician experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease,' HSA told The Straits Times. What are the side effects? For both drugs, the common side effects include infusion-related reactions such as fever, body aches and joint pains. However, the drugs have also been known to cause amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, known as Aria, a condition that can cause brain swelling or bleeding. In many cases, the condition is asymptomatic. But in more severe cases, it can cause seizures, or even death in rare instances. 'MRI monitoring is recommended during treatment to manage this risk safely,' said Dr Dash, referring to magnetic resonance imaging. What has been the response in Singapore to the drugs? Doctors in Singapore who have prescribed lecanemab described their experience as largely positive. Dr Lee Kim En, a neurologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, prescribed the drug to 27 patients, who had symptoms such as memory loss affecting their daily lives and difficulty in performing familiar tasks, including handling personal and financial matters. Most patients had shown a favourable response to the treatment, with a slowing in disease progression and preservation of cognition. 'Only one patient experienced mild confusion, disorientation for several hours after his first treatment,' Dr Lee added. He described lecanemab as a 'breakthrough treatment' for patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. 'Without intervention, the time course of deterioration may take four to eight years, requiring full-time care and assistance for all aspects of daily living,' he said. Associate Professor Adeline Ng, a senior consultant at the National Neuroscience Institute's neurology department, had prescribed lecanemab to two women below the age of 65 who were diagnosed with mild Alzheimer's and had gradual mild cognitive decline. While on treatment, they were able to be more engaged with their families and maintain their ability to look after their daily needs, Prof Ng said, noting that neither had side effects. She intends to continue prescribing lecanemab, describing the treatment as 'the start of an era of new drug treatments' that could potentially modify the disease course for patients. Prof Ng stressed that such drugs are effective only in the early stages of Alzheimer's and are not a cure. Rather, they delay progression to the next stage of the disease by about six to eight months. 'The drug is also not suitable for some patients, such as those who have had previous strokes or who take certain blood thinning medication, due to the increased risk of bleeding in the brain,' she added. What are the costs? One factor that could stand in the way of wider acceptance of these drugs is their costliness. In the United States, lecanemab treatment is priced at US$26,500 (S$33,900) per year, while donanemab costs about US$32,000 annually. Britain's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has declined to recommend both drugs for routine use under the publicly funded National Health Service, due to the high costs of purchasing and administering the drugs, and a lack of evidence on their long-term effects. In Singapore, the prices of the two drugs are not publicly available. However, the Ministry of Health said it is evaluating the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the two drugs to decide whether to subsidise them in the future. Dr Dash said such drugs represent a paradigm shift in the approach to Alzheimer's, noting that early diagnosis and treatment will become increasingly important due to the ageing populations in Singapore and across the region. 'The availability of Leqembi may drive healthcare systems to adopt biomarker-based diagnosis, improve infrastructure for safe infusion and monitoring, and offer patients more hope for slowing disease progression rather than only managing symptoms,' he said. Simply Science is a series that looks at the science behind everyday questions.
Straits Times
08-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Singapore's dengue numbers are down. Should we still be concerned about it?
There were 2,219 dengue cases between January and June 5, compared with the 10,000 cases in the first six months of 2024. PHOTO: ST FILE Simply Science Singapore's dengue numbers are down. Should we still be concerned about it? SINGAPORE – The number of dengue cases in Singapore has dropped significantly in 2025 , constituting only about a quarter of the cases recorded in the first half of 2024. Data from the National Environment Agency's (NEA) website shows there were 2,219 cases between January and June 5, compared with the 10,000 cases in the first six months of 2024. The agency attributed the decline in number partly to innovations such as Project Wolbachia – an initiative to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito population through the release of lab-grown male mosquitoes. Does this mean that Singapore's control measures – which include fogging, home inspections and public education – are working, and that dengue is no longer a threat here? Experts told Simply Science that it may be premature to say if the existing measures can curb future dengue outbreaks. Under Project Wolbachia, male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia – a common, naturally occurring bacteria – are released into high-risk dengue areas. When they mate with female mosquitoes, the eggs produced will not hatch, leading to a reduction in the mosquito population over time. The initiative currently covers 23 areas in Singapore, including Bukit Batok, Tampines and Serangoon. It aims to protect 800,000 households, or about half of all households here, by 2026. Studies have shown that residents in these areas are 75 per cent less likely to contract dengue, with the Aedes aegypti mosquito population in the areas falling by between 80 per cent and 90 per cent. Professor Ooi Eng Eong of Duke-NUS Medical School described the addition of Project Wolbachia to Singapore's vector control programme since 2016 as a 'positive development', noting that the lower number in 2025 compared with the same period in 2024 is 'good news'. 'However, tempting as it may be, it is premature to attribute the current trends to any specific intervention,' said the expert in emerging infectious diseases. Dengue epidemics do not occur annually but rather in five to eight-year cycles, said Prof Ooi, adding that fluctuations in mosquito population density are just one reason for the cyclical outbreaks. 'Other factors, such as population immunity to each of the four dengue viruses and genetic changes in dengue viruses circulating in Singapore, also affect dengue virus transmission and hence the number of dengue cases.' There are four dengue serotypes, or strains, with DenV-2 having been the dominant one in the Republic since September 2023. 'Thus, although tempting, short-term changes in dengue case trends after the introduction of new dengue control measures should be interpreted with caution,' Prof Ooi said. 'Moreover, as our last epidemic was in 2022, trends in dengue cases in 2025 are likely too soon to conclude that the current control measures can effectively prevent future outbreaks.' Professor Tikki Pang, a visiting professor at NUS' Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, noted that similar initiatives in other countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia, had shown positive results as well. He cited two other possible reasons for the drop in dengue cases – seasonal variation and effective mosquito control. Singapore typically sees fewer dengue cases outside the May to October peak period. NEA has also credited community vigilance – such as efforts to clear stagnant water to prevent mosquito breeding – as a key reason why a major outbreak was avoided. In 2022, Singapore reported 32,325 cases of dengue, the second-highest annual total on record. In May, NEA warned that despite the lower number of cases so far in 2025 , Singapore's low population immunity – as well as a global rise in cases – could potentially lead to an increase in dengue cases. The agency noted that the May to October period usually sees higher dengue transmission here due to the accelerated development of Aedes mosquitoes and the more rapid spread of the dengue virus in the mosquitoes. It reminded people to take actions such as overturning pails and changing water in vases to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. According to figures from the World Health Organisation, more than 13 million dengue cases were reported globally in 2024 – more than double the 6.5 million recorded in 2023. Simply Science is a series that looks at the science behind everyday questions. Zhaki Abdullah is a correspondent at The Straits Times. He is on the health beat, in addition to occasionally covering science, environmental, tech and Muslim affairs issues. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Irish Examiner
03-06-2025
- Science
- Irish Examiner
Tots to Teens: Tiny atoms make big reactions at Cork Carnival of Science
How do planes fly? What can fossils tell us about the past? And what can rugby teach us about the laws of physics? These questions, and many more, will be answered at this year's Cork Carnival of Science in Fitzgerald's Park on June 7 and 8. This free family event promises two action-packed days of science-based fun. Its interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and performances includes the Budding Botanicals, which introduces children to the chemistry of plants and the surprising reactions when certain natural substances are mixed together. The Fossil Roadshow will also show them how to identify fossils and examine them for clues to prehistoric life. RTÉ's Mark the Science Guy will carry out experiments to investigate the power of weather and electricity. Simply Science will join with the Irish Air Force to explore the principles that govern flight. And Science Made Simple will explore the role that physics and biology play in various sports. Ireland's leading universities, research centres, and scientific organisations are participating in the event, hosting stands and events on subjects as diverse as robotics, biodiversity, and sports science. Food vendors will be in the park over the weekend, along with picnic spaces where families can eat, and there's a quiet zone for those who need time out. Find out more at Breastfeeding book Practical Breastfeeding, by Dublin-based lactation consultant and mother of three, Caoimhe Whelan, is published this week. Combining informative text with 200 colour illustrations, the book provides parents who want to breastfeed with the help they need. During her years working as a lactation consultant, Whelan has seen how mothers attempt to breastfeed, but often stop, due to unforeseen challenges. Her book outlines the causes of, and potential solutions to, these challenges, covering topics such as latching, feeding frequency, mastitis, and cracked nipples. There is a chapter on breastfeeding and mental health, as well as another on the emotional fallout of difficult breastfeeding. The book also represents diverse ethnicities, abilities, gender identities, and body shapes and sizes. Practical Breastfeeding is available at the recommended retail price of €19.99. Sports story If young readers in your house like stories about fun, friendship, and football, consider adding the latest book by children's author Emma Larkin to their to-be-read pile this summer. Féile is the newest addition to Larkin's GAA-themed Twin Power series. This series follows Aoife and Aidan Power, twin siblings who have always dreamed of playing in Féile, the biggest GAA competition. The twins are playing on separate boys' and girls' teams for the first time, and both teams are vying to qualify. They have secondary school to navigate, new teams to adjust to, and an unexpected family mystery to solve. It's going to be a challenging football season. Aimed at readers aged nine and older, Féile costs €9.99. Day of creativity This Saturday, June 7, is Cruinniú na nÓg, a day when free creative events and activities are organised for young people all over Ireland. Cork city is hosting the likes of circus skills workshops, pop-up performances, and a chance to rap with the Kabin Studio. In Cork county, young people can attend clay modelling workshops and storytelling sessions with puppets. There will be sean nós dancing and music classes in Clare, opportunities to build your own robots and create your own bracelets in Kerry, and film-making and stop-motion workshops in Limerick. To find out what's happening near you, visit
Mint
30-05-2025
- Science
- Mint
Climate change may make it harder to spot submarines
THE PENTAGON 'does not do climate-change crap", said Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's defence secretary, on March 9th. 'We do training and warfighting." Fair enough. But a new NATO study illustrates how closely the two are linked. A submarine must remain undetected, eluding hydrophones towed by ships, dropped from planes and strung along the seabed. Just how quiet it needs to be depends on the surrounding water's acidity, salinity and temperature. Higher carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere change all these things. The gas's mere presence acidifies seawater. Its warming effects alters its temperature, and by melting ice changes the salinity, too. Sources of ambient noise such as winds, waves and whales are all affected. And the changes all differ from place to place. To work out the consequences for submariners, a team led by Andrea Gilli of the NATO Defence College in Rome and Mauro Gilli of ETH Zurich used computer modelling to examine how sound travelled through deep water in the past (from 1970 to 1999) and how climate models suggest it will do so in the future (from 2070 to 2099). The researchers originally published their findings in the Texas National Security Review in 2024. In the North Atlantic, a crucial battleground between Russian subs and NATO sub-hunters—as well as in the area between the first and second island chains in the Western Pacific, just to the east of Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines—detection will become harder. In the Bay of Biscay, off the French coast, a sub that could once be detected from 60km away will be spotted only at 20km. In the Sea of Japan, however, local conditions will make life easier for the hunters. North Korean submarines operating in those waters at a depth of 100m could previously get to within 10km away without detection. In the future, estimate the authors, they could be seen from 45km off. The hypothetical scenario the study considers is based on a worst-case outcome in which nothing has been done to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions; a trajectory most scientists now consider unrealistic. All the same, the trends identified in the paper are noteworthy. In recent years there has been much talk of new detection methods making the oceans more transparent. In fact, argue the authors, the seas might become more opaque. Curious about the world? To enjoy our mind-expanding science coverage, sign up to Simply Science, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.
Mint
22-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
Rumours on social media could cause sick people to feel worse
THE PLACEBO effect is a well-known example of the brain's power over the body, allowing people who are poorly or in pain to improve if they are led to believe they are being treated. The opposite, however, is also possible: patients who believe that procedures will cause them to suffer ill effects can make themselves worse. The roots of this anti-placebo, or nocebo, effect are difficult to untangle. But in a paper in Health Psychology Review, researchers in Australia have pooled the available evidence and ranked the contributing factors. Misinformation on social media seems to come near the top. In fact, what psychologists call social learning—the drawing of inferences from the views of others—was found to be as powerful as lived experience, and more influential than information given by a doctor. This is a problem, says Cosette Saunders, a psychologist at the University of Sydney and lead author of the study. Social learning may not be able to spread infection or cause new disease, but it can drive harmful side-effects. And managing these side-effects costs health systems around the world billions of dollars. Take cancer treatment. In recent years, new drugs have emerged to control the side-effects experienced by people receiving chemotherapy. But Dr Saunders says that vomiting and nausea have not come down in cancer patients by as much as expected. Social learning may be responsible. 'They'll say, their mother-in-law had chemo twenty years ago and she was vomiting every single day," Dr Saunders says. 'Those kinds of long-held beliefs are influencing them now, even though the medical landscape has changed." Something similar appeared to be happening during the covid-19 pandemic: studies in America and Australia found people who were most exposed to the idea that vaccination provoked side-effects were also most likely to report them. Though the impact of the placebo effect has been recognised for centuries, work on the nocebo effect is much newer. Only in the past two decades have many scientists been convinced of its real-world impact, helped by studies that demonstrate how a negative attitude can lead to physical symptoms such as increased heart rate and physiological arousal. The conclusions of the Australian analysis are stark about the power of social learning. But, says Dr Saunders, it is hard to know how much of these effects are down to social-media use as opposed to, say, chatting with friends at the pub. Dr Saunders' lab is one of many now trying to find ways to minimise the damage. One possibility is to balance warnings of nasty side-effects with positive testimony from patients who had no problems. If she finds something that works, she'll pass it on. Curious about the world? To enjoy our mind-expanding science coverage, sign up to Simply Science, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.
