Is Donanemab currently officially used in China?

Donanemab (Donanemab, trade name: Kisunla) is a monoclonal antibody targeting β-amyloid protein (Aβ). It is used to treat early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (including mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia stages). The drug was first approved in the United States in July 2024, then in Japan, the United Kingdom, and other places, and finally in December 2024. On March 17, it was officially approved for marketing by the State Food and Drug Administration of China, becoming the second approved anti-Aβ monoclonal antibody treatment drug in China, second only to Lecanemab (Lecanemab).

According to official news, Eli Lilly China has successfully issued the first batch of donenemab prescriptions for domestic patients at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University on March 31, 2025, for the intravenous treatment of patients with early stage AD. This drug is a first-class innovative drug and breakthrough therapy that can accurately bind AAβ plaques in the brain, promote plaque clearance through immune mechanisms, and slow down the decline of cognitive function. Its efficacy comes from the support of phase III TRAILBLAZER‑ALZ 2 clinical research data, and its efficacy is significant.

After being launched in China, donexumab will work with the approved lencanezumab to provide patients with treatment options. At the same time, officials are also actively carrying out patient assistance programs and promoting medical insurance inclusion to reduce patients' financial burden. Clinically, the typical dose of donenezumab is 3 intravenous injections of 700 mg every 4 weeks, and then the maintenance dose is 1400 mgOnce every 4 weeks. MRIMonitoring can detect amyloid-related imaging changes (ARIA), most of which are controllable edema or microbleeding.

In summary, donexumab has been officially launched in China and is suitable for patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. At present, its treatment path is basically in sync with international standards, and its clinical use is gradually being promoted. If necessary, patients are recommended to go to the Department of Neurology of a tertiary hospital with relevant qualifications or the National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases, and undergo testing and treatment under the guidance of professional doctors to obtain the best curative effect.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/