An advisory panel to the US Food and Drug Administration has recommended authorizing a new drug for Alzheimer's disease jointly developed by Japanese pharmaceutical firm Eisai and US partner Biogen.

The panel of six independent experts unanimously agreed in a meeting on Friday that the efficacy of lecanemab was confirmed.

The panel says the drug is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and that it should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.

The drug is designed to slow the advancement of the symptoms by removing amyloid beta accumulating in the brain. The abnormal protein is believed to be the major cause of the disease.

The panel explained that the drug makers' data from a final clinical trial show the drug was effective in slowing down the progression of Alzheimer's.

In January, the FDA approved lecanemab under an accelerated process for drugs designed to treat serious conditions.