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Canada Just Approved a New Alzheimer’s Drug. Here’s What You Need to Know

  • Rafka Abou-Khalil

    • Summary

    An overview of Health Canada's approval of Kisunla, a new once-monthly treatment for early Alzheimer's disease, covering how it works, who it's for, what it costs, and what access looks like for Canadians.

    For families living with Alzheimer’s disease, this week brought genuinely good news.

    Health Canada has approved Kisunla™ (donanemab), a new treatment for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s and it works differently than anything that’s come before. Rather than managing symptoms, it targets the underlying biology of the disease.

    First, a quick primer on Alzheimer’s

    Alzheimer’s is caused in part by a buildup of proteins called amyloid plaques in the brain. Over time, these plaques are associated with the memory loss and cognitive decline that define the condition. More than 770,000 Canadians are currently living with it, a number projected to double by 2050.

    So what does Kisunla actually do?

    Kisunla is a once-monthly infusion that targets and helps clear amyloid plaques from the brain. Once those plaques are cleared to minimal levels, treatment can stop, with some patients in clinical trials finishing as early as six months, and nearly half stopping after 12 months.

    In trials, Kisunla reduced the risk of progressing to the next stage of disease by 40 per cent. For patients caught earliest, those with mild cognitive impairment, the decline in memory, thinking and daily functioning slowed by 35 per cent over 18 months.

    Is it for everyone with Alzheimer’s?

    Not quite. Kisunla is approved for adults in the early stages, specifically those with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, who have confirmed amyloid buildup and specific genetic profiles. People with two copies of a gene variant called ApoE ε4 are not eligible, as they face a higher risk of side effects.

    The most notable side effect is called ARIA, temporary swelling or small spots of bleeding in the brain that are monitored through regular MRI scans. It doesn’t usually cause symptoms, but it’s something doctors watch for closely.

    What will it cost, and can you actually get it?

    This is where things get complicated. Kisunla’s Canadian list price is approximately $47,250 per year, and right now, no provincial drug plan covers it.

    Canada’s Drug Agency is currently reviewing whether it should be publicly funded, but the Alzheimer Society of Canada warns that this process can take up to two years after regulatory approval. In the meantime, access will largely depend on private insurance or the ability to pay out of pocket.

    This isn’t a new problem. Kisunla’s predecessor, lecanemab, was approved by Health Canada in October 2025 and Canada’s Drug Agency recommended against public coverage in February 2026, citing modest benefits relative to cost. That leaves Kisunla entering a landscape where even the first drug in this class remains inaccessible to most Canadians without private coverage.

    As for where you’d actually receive treatment: Kisunla is administered as an intravenous infusion at a healthcare facility,  think a hospital or specialized clinic, not a standard doctor’s office. Each session takes about an hour, once a month. Patients also require regular MRI scans throughout treatment to monitor for side effects. That means access will likely be concentrated in larger urban centres with the right imaging infrastructure, at least initially.

    The bottom line

    Health Canada’s approval is real progress. For Canadians in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, Kisunla offers something genuinely new: the possibility of slowing the disease while functioning is still relatively high. But approval and access are two different things, and until provincial drug plans act, this treatment will remain out of reach for many of the people who need it most.

    Kisunla is already approved in 48 other markets globally. Canada is now among them.

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