Faroe Islands await decision on new Alzheimer’s drug

It is still unclear whether the new Alzheimer’s drug donanemab will be approved for use in the Faroe Islands, Kringvarp Føroya reported on Tuesday.

The decision depends on the Danish Medicines Council, which is due to issue its recommendation on 26 November.

Another new Alzheimer’s drug is lecanemab. The European Union approved both lecanemab and donanemab last year, but the Danish Medicines Council has recommended against using lecanemab. The other Nordic countries have taken the same position because of the risk of side effects and the cost.

In the Faroe Islands, the Council for Specialised Hospital Medicines will make the recommendation. The Faroese council normally follows decisions made by the Danish Medicines Council and also considers the approach taken by neighbouring countries.

Government minister Eyðdis Hartmann Niclasen gave the information in a reply to Elsebeth Mercedis Gunnleygsdóttur, a member of the Faroese parliament.

If donanemab treatment is offered in the Faroe Islands, it is expected to cost about 15 million kroner a year. The Faroese council will consider the matter once the Danish Medicines Council has made its decision in November, the minister said.