Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) and its Japanese partner Eisai’s (OTCPK:ESALF) (OTCPK:ESAIY) breakthrough Alzheimer’s therapy, Leqembi (lecanemab), is now available in China, the companies announced late Thursday.
Lecanemab is a humanized immunoglobulin gamma 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody and said to be the only approved treatment shown to reduce the rate of disease progression and slow cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer’s.
China approved Leqembi in January 2024 as a treatment of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, becoming the third country to do after the U.S. and Japan.
In July 2023, the U.S. FDA fully approved Leqembi for adults with Alzheimer’s disease, and subsequently, the companies launched the product in the U.S. for $26.5K. The drug later rolled out in Japan for about ¥2.98M ($20.4K) per patient per year.
In China, the drug will first be launched in the private market at 2,508 yuan ($345.04) for a 200 mg vial. Eisai (OTCPK:ESALF) (OTCPK:ESAIY) has partnered with a major Chinese medical insurance company to offer an insurance plan specifically for Alzheimer’s disease, including partial coverage of the drug cost.
Eisai is the lead developer of the drug, with Biogen assisting its commercialization.
