BEIJING: Pharmaceutical giants Eisai Co. and Biogen Inc. have launched their Alzheimer’s treatment, Leqembi, in China, marking the drug’s introduction into its third global market following the United States and Japan, the companies said.
Leqembi represents a significant advancement in Alzheimer’s treatment as the first drug clinically proven to modify the course of the disease by targeting and removing beta amyloid, a toxic protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
According to a joint statement from Eisai and Biogen, the initial release of Leqembi will be in the private market, priced at 2,508 yuan ($345.04) for a 200 mg vial. The companies also announced plans for collaboration with a prominent Chinese medical insurance firm to facilitate partial coverage of the drug’s cost.
The Chinese approval of Leqembi in January followed a standard approval granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July of the previous year.
In anticipation of more accessible diagnostic tools, such as blood tests for Alzheimer’s expected by 2025, Eisai aims to expand its reach within China’s estimated population of 17 million persons affected by early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
