Leqembi subcutaneous injection becomes available in the US

Eisai has announced the availability of Leqembi Iqlik (lecanemab-irmb) in the United States for the initiation of treatment for early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Following FDA approval on July 13, this subcutaneous injection offers a new administration method via an autoinjector, allowing patients to perform both starting and maintenance treatments at home.

Leqembi is a monoclonal antibody designed to target and remove toxic amyloid-beta plaques in the brain. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the therapy can slow cognitive decline by up to 27 percent. For starting treatment, the approved dosage is 500 mg once per week, administered as two 250 mg injections.

Developed through a strategic research collaboration between BioArctic and Eisai, the treatment aims to reduce the burden on healthcare resources by minimizing the need for time-consuming intravenous infusions in clinical settings. As with intravenous administration, patients require MRI monitoring for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) before and during treatment.