A drug called lecanemab, designed to remove the toxic substance beta-amyloid from the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, is on track to receive full approval from the FDA by July 6. While this may offer hope to more than a million Medicare patients in the earlier stages of the disease, barriers such as the need for doctor participation in a registry, potential lack of insurance coverage, and high costs may limit accessibility. Even with the drug’s ability to slow cognitive decline by about six months, concerns remain about the challenges in identifying suitable patients, potential side effects, and the lack of sufficient medical infrastructure. Despite these obstacles, experts acknowledge the importance of progress in Alzheimer’s treatment, particularly after the setback with the conditional approval of aducanumab in 2021. While lecanemab represents a significant improvement, the high cost raises questions about its affordability and potential profitability for the drug manufacturers. Overall, there are hopes for the drug’s approval and availability to patients, but challenges in accessibility and cost may limit its impact on a broader scale.
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Lecanemab, the Alzheimer’s drug, is pending full FDA approval. Who will have access to it? : Shots
