The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The FDA recently granted accelerated approval for the drug Leqembi, a medication intended to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Leqembi, the brand name for lecanemab, is the second Alzheimer’s therapy for individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Lequembi targets the protein amyloid and can be prescribed to patients in early to mid-stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Eisai, the manufacturer of Leqembi, reports that the drug will be available by January 23, 2023 and estimates the cost of the biweekly infusion to be $26,500 annually. Medicare coverage of Leqembi and other drugs like it, such as Aduhelm, that have accelerated FDA approval are limited to beneficiaries enrolled in certain clinical trials.