2023-03-20 11:20:47 ET
- Veterans living with Alzheimer's disease will have access to Biogen ( NASDAQ: BIIB ) and Eisai's ( OTCPK:ESALF )( OTCPK:ESAIY ) Alzheimer's drug Leqembi (lecanamab) through the Veterans Health Administration.
- The move is somewhat of a surprise given that CMS in February said it was not reconsidering a decisio n made last year to severely limit coverage of amyloid-targeting Alzheimer's antibody therapies.
- Leqembi can be prescribed by VA healthcare professionals to vets based on the agency's criteria and the drug's label . The latter says the treatment is limited to those with early-stage disease.
- Leqembi was approved under accelerated approval in January. Eisai ( OTCPK:ESAIY ) is also pursuing traditional approval, a prospect that could help win CMS and private payer coverage, and which could come this summer , according to the Japanese pharma's US CEO.
For further details see:
Biogen, Eisai Alzheimer's drug Leqembi covered by VA