The Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi is seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on January 20, 2023.
Eisai | via Reuters
Medicare has agreed to pay for the Alzheimer’s treatment Leqembi, a major turning point for patients who are diagnosed with the early stages of the disease.
Leqembi is the only drug on the market right now that has demonstrated the ability to slow the progression of early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in a clinical trial. The monoclonal antibody, administered twice monthly through intravenous means, slowed cognitive decline by 27% over 18 months in the trial.
Leqembi is made by Japanese drugmaker Eisai and its partner Biogen, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Medicare’s decision to cover Leqembi, which came moments after the Food and Drug Administration fully approved the drug Thursday, promises to make the treatment more accessible to patients.
Medicare coverage is crucial for most patients to have any hope of being able to afford Leqembi. Eisai has…
2023-07-08 06:00:01
Source from www.cnbc.com