Oct 22 (Reuters) -

Britain's National Health Service (NHS) will block Eli

Lilly's ( LLY ) Alzheimer's drug donanemab on Wednesday, deeming

it too expensive for NHS patients, the Telegraph reported on

Tuesday.

British regulators are expected to declare the drug safe for

use on Wednesday, but the National Institute for Health and Care

Excellence (NICE), which decides what drugs are available on the

NHS, will immediately rule that it is too expensive for NHS

patients, the newspaper reported.

Eli Lilly ( LLY ), NHS and NICE did not immediately respond to

Reuters' requests for a comment.

The Telegraph has previously reported in August that

donanemab would be rejected by NICE and blocked for use by the

NHS.

Scientists have hailed donanemab as the "best ever"

treatment for Alzheimer's disease, reportedly being even more

effective at slowing the progression of the condition than

previous treatments.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration

approved

donanemab for the treatment of early Alzheimer's in July.