Eisai’s New Alzheimer’s Drug Leqembi Hits the U.S. Market

Eisai has begun to sell Leqembi (lecanemab), its newly approved Alzheimer’s treatment, in the U.S.

During its quarterly financial results presentation Monday, the company said the first U.S. sales of the drug took place Jan. 18, the first prescription was written five days later, and Leqembi was first administered to a U.S. patient on Feb. 3.

Eisai did not divulge numbers on how many prescriptions were filled or how the patients paid. The drug costs $26,500 annually and doesn’t yet have insurance coverage through commercial payers. The company awaits a decision on whether Medicare will cover it.

Leqembi, an anti-amyloid antibody, got accelerated approval from the FDA as a treatment for Alzheimer’s on Jan. 6. The company must conduct a confirmatory study to gain a full approval.

Biogen and Eisai co-market the drug.