Artist's rendering of a brain cell damaged by amyloid beta plaque in Alzheimer's disease

An advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration will vote Nov. 6 on whether to recommend that the agency approve the first drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Inside Health Policy reports.

Aducanumab removes amyloid beta, slowing Alzheimer’s progression and resulting in better clinical outcomes, according to developer Biogen. Phase 3 trials in adults with early stage disease showed that the treatment reduced decline in cognition, memory, language, and activities of daily living performance, among other symptoms. 

If approved, the drug will be the first on the market to slow Alzheimer’s progression, the drugmaker said.

The FDA has not reviewed an application for a new Alzheimer’s treatment for at least 15 years, Reuters reported when Biogen applied for approval in July.