Several patient groups have reportedly been joining hands to form a public pressure campaign to compel the U.S. government authorities to ease the proposed restrictions on new Alzheimer’s treatments, shelling out millions of dollars on local and television advertisements that began broadcasting during the Sunday morning political shows.

The unconventional ad campaign comes after a dispute between government health agencies over who should be allowed to access Biogen’s Aduhelm drug, the first-ever treatment for the progressive neurologic disorder to be approved in 2 decades.

In January, the U.S. government’s Medicare program, which provides health benefits for citizens aged above 65, proposed paying for Biogen’s drug and other similar medicines that are in development. But this would only apply to patients enrolled in years-long government studies.

USAgainstAlzheimer’s is a community of engaged and enraged individuals who have been touched by Alzheimer's disease. The organization said that it is sponsoring ads in Baltimore and the Washington D.C.  areas, focusing on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Congress, and the White House.

Chairman of USAgainstAlzheimer’s, George Vradenbur was quoted saying that the organization wishes to give a face to the individuals who are affected by the disease.

It is worth noting that patients and doctors have also come together in thousands and pressured the Medicare agency with letters stating that patients should not be deprived of the new drugs once they have been approved. However, Medicare has been praised by many for putting restrictions on the use of Aduhelm.

According to sources, the number of U.S. citizens suffering from Alzheimer’s is expected to reach 13 million by 2050, substantially higher than the current 6 million. Biogen has projected that nearly 1 million people should be eligible to receive Aduhelm, which has been approved for patients in the early stages of the mind-wasting disease.

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https://sabcnews.com/alzheimers-patient-groups-pressure-u-s-to-pay-for-biogen-drug/