The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday fully approved the Alzheimer’s treatment Leqembi, a pivotal decision that will expand access to the expensive drug for older Americans.
Medicare announced shortly after the FDA approval that it is now covering the antibody treatment for patients enrolled in the insurance program for seniors, though several conditions apply.
Leqembi is the first Alzheimer’s antibody treatment to receive full FDA approval. It is also the first such drug that to receive broad coverage through Medicare.
Leqembi is not a cure. The treatment slowed cognitive decline from early Alzheimer’s disease by 27% over 18 months during Eisai’s clinical trial. The antibody, administered twice monthly through intravenous infusion, targets a protein called amyloid that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Medicare coverage is a crucial step to help older Americans with early Alzheimer’s disease pay for the treatment. With a median income of about $30,000, most people on…
2023-07-06 17:43:40
Link from www.cnbc.com
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