U.S. FDA approves Eisai. Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug

(Reuters) – On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab by Eisai Co Ltd and Biogen Inc for patients with the first stages of this mind-wasting disorder.

Leqembi will sell the drug. It is part of a group of treatments that seeks to slow down the progression of neurodegenerative diseases by removing toxic brain proteins known as beta amyloid.

Nearly all other experimental drugs that had used the same approach before this one failed.

The initial access to the drug will likely be restricted by a variety of factors, including Medicare reimbursement decisions. Medicare is the U.S. government program for Americans 65 years and older. This group represents 90% of those likely to be eligible to receive Leqembi.

(Reporting by Deena Belasley in Los Angeles, and Bhanvi Satija from Bengaluru; Editing: Bill Berkrot