Medical School faculty leads introduction of pioneering Alzheimer’s treatment in Cyprus

George Kaponides, Clinical Professor of Neurology at the Medical School and Medical and Scientific Director of the EOKA Fighters’ Melathron, was part of the first medical team in Cyprus to administer donanemab, a new treatment that slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Marketed under the brand name Kisunla, the drug is a monoclonal antibody that targets and clears established beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, helping to slow cognitive and functional decline in patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

The first patient to receive the treatment in Cyprus was a 72-year-old patient at EOKA Fighters’ Melathron in Palodia, who met the strict eligibility criteria, having been diagnosed at an early stage of the disease and presenting with mild symptoms. To make the treatment available, Prof. Kaponides and his team secured special authorisation from the Pharmaceutical Services for the importation of the drug.

Speaking to Philenews, Prof. Kaponides said that the drug had already been granted marketing authorisation by the European Commission in September 2025 and is already being used in several countries abroad, while access to the treatment in Cyprus is subject to strict eligibility criteria.

Prof. Kaponides also highlighted the importance of early diagnosis, emphasising that advances in disease-modifying therapies make timely identification of Alzheimer’s disease more critical than ever. He expressed hope that more patients who could benefit from the therapy will be identified in the future and that the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) will consider covering its cost to improve access for those who could benefit.

The introduction of donanemab in Cyprus represents an important development in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and expands the therapeutic options available to patients at an early stage of the condition.