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FDA's Controversial Approval Of Aducanumab : Short Wave The FDA has approved a new drug for Alzheimer's. But a lot of experts are skeptical about whether the drug works. Rhitu Chatterjee talks with science correspondent Jon Hamilton about the controversial drug aducanumab and why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it.

For more of Jon's reporting, read "For Those Facing Alzheimer's, A Controversial Drug Offers Hope."

You can email Short Wave at ShortWave@NPR.org.

Short Wave

FDA Approves Aducanumab — A Controversial Drug For Alzheimer's

FDA Approves Aducanumab — A Controversial Drug For Alzheimer's

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A doctor reviews a PET brain scan at Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix. The drug company Biogen Inc. says it will seek federal approval for a medicine to treat early Alzheimer's disease. The announcement was a surprise because the company stopped two studies of aducanumab in 2019 after partial results suggested it was not working. Matt York/AP hide caption

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Matt York/AP

The FDA has approved a new drug for Alzheimer's, but a lot of experts are skeptical about whether the drug works. Rhitu Chatterjee talks with science correspondent Jon Hamilton about the controversial drug aducanumab and why the U. S. Food and Drug Administration approved it.

For more of Jon's reporting, read "For Those Facing Alzheimer's, A Controversial Drug Offers Hope."

You can email Short Wave at ShortWave@NPR.org.

This episode was produced by Thomas Lu, edited by Gisele Grayson and fact-checked by Indi Khera. The audio engineer for this episode was Josh Newell.