TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Far Eastern Memorial Hospital is set to become the first medical institution in Taiwan to administer Kisunla, an early Alzheimer’s drug, marking a milestone in the country’s efforts to combat dementia.

The hospital said it will begin treatment on Monday, with an 83-year-old female patient scheduled to receive two doses of Kisunla. The medication will be administered by Dementia Center Director Yan Sui-hing (甄瑞興) and his medical team, according to CNA.

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. Kisunla and another drug, Leqembi, are among the first Alzheimer’s treatments in nearly 20 years to address the disease’s underlying causes.

Alzheimer’s is widely believed to be associated with a buildup of amyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins in the brain, which form deposits that damage brain tissue. Although Aβ's exact role remains unclear, targeting the protein has become the focus of new therapeutic strategies, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

Kisunla and Leqembi aim to slow disease progression in early-stage patients by reducing these amyloid deposits. Early clinical studies have shown a moderate slowing of cognitive decline, but experts stress that further data are needed to fully validate the drugs’ long-term efficacy and safety.

Yan said Taiwan has about 350,000 dementia patients, with 60% to 70% of cases attributed to Alzheimer’s. Roughly half of those may be eligible for the new treatments, meaning fewer than 100,000 patients could qualify.

However, eligibility requires thorough screening. Patients with a genetic tendency toward bleeding or those taking anticoagulants are not considered suitable for either treatment, Yan added.

Both drugs carry a risk of cerebral hemorrhage and brain edema. Clinical trials show that about 3% of users may develop microbleeds or swelling.

Treatment typically spans one to one-and-a-half years to effectively clear amyloid buildup. Patients must continue monitoring after completing the regimen, and repeat dosing may be needed if amyloid levels return to the treatment threshold.

While the treatments are not yet covered by Taiwan’s National Health Insurance, they are expected to be available for self-pay at hospitals and clinics. The annual out-of-pocket cost is estimated at over NT$1 million (US$33,870).

Leqembi and Kisunla received drug approval in Taiwan earlier this year.