Singapore has taken a pivotal step in dementia care with its Health Sciences Authority (HSA) officially approving Donanemab, a groundbreaking therapy for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The announcement, made on March 11, 2025, marks Singapore’s entry into a new frontier of neurodegenerative treatment, joining nations like the United States in endorsing anti-amyloid antibody therapies that go beyond symptom management.
Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody designed to target and clear amyloid plaques in the brain—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s pathology. The drug is intended for patients experiencing mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia with confirmed amyloid presence, verified through biomarker testing. This biologic treatment does not cure Alzheimer’s but has shown promise in slowing disease progression, offering patients and families more time with improved cognitive function.
The HSA’s decision to greenlight Donanemab reflects its dedication to advancing cutting-edge medical technologies and improving patient outcomes in neurological diseases. With Alzheimer’s prevalence on the rise in Asia, this approval also reflects broader regional efforts to address the growing public health challenge posed by dementia.
Initial implementation of Donanemab will be limited to select neurology centers across Singapore, where specialists will focus on early diagnosis and treatment planning. Physicians emphasize the necessity of timely intervention, noting that the drug’s efficacy is closely tied to its administration in the disease’s earliest stages. This underscores the critical role of biomarker testing and cognitive screening in primary care settings.
Despite the excitement surrounding Donanemab, the approval also triggers complex discussions about access, affordability, and long-term patient management. Health economists caution that while the upfront costs of such therapies are significant, their long-term benefits could be profound—potentially reducing the need for intensive caregiving and institutional care. This could, in turn, alleviate some of the economic and emotional burdens faced by families and the healthcare system.
Singapore’s proactive stance places it among a select group of countries ready to adopt disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s, setting a precedent in the Asia-Pacific region. Experts believe this move could catalyze further investments in neurodegenerative research, biomarker development, and healthcare infrastructure necessary to support these innovative treatments.
As the healthcare community navigates this new terrain, the focus remains on ensuring equitable access, continued monitoring of treatment outcomes, and the ethical implications of high-cost biologics. Donanemab’s arrival in Singapore is more than just a regulatory milestone—it may well signal the beginning of a transformative chapter in dementia care across Asia.
