BioArctic AB's partner Eisai announced that Leqembi® generic name: lecanemab has been launched in China. Leqembi received approval in January 2024 as a treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild AD dementia. China is the third country to launch Leqembi following the United States and Japan.
Eisai estimates there are 17 million patients with MCI or mild dementia due to AD (collectively referred to as early AD) in China in 2024, which is expected to increase as the population ages. Eisai is distributing the product in China and conducting information provision activities through specialized Medical Representatives, while also working to build a unique early AD diagnosis and treatment pathway that combines online and offline services. Eisai is also working to build evidence for the implementation of definitive diagnosis of early AD using blood biomarkers.
In China, Leqembi will first be launched in the private market and the price for a 200 mg vial will be CNY 2,508. In collaboration with Eisai, a major Chinese medical insurance company has developed and launched a healthcare insurance plan specifically for AD including partial coverage of the drug cost. Through these efforts, Eisai is committed to promoting the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of AD in China.
Leqembi selectively binds to soluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregates (protofibrils[1]), as well as insoluble Aβ aggregates (fibrils) which are a major component of Aβ plaques in AD, thereby reducing both Aβ protofibrils and Aβ plaques in the brain. Leqembi is the world's first and only approved treatment shown to reduce the rate of disease progression and to slow cognitive and functional decline through this mechanism.
Leqembi is the result of a long-standing collaboration between BioArctic and Eisai, and the antibody was originally developed by BioArctic based on the work of Professor Lars Lannfelt and his discovery of the Arctic mutation in Alzheimer's disease. Eisai is responsible for the clinical development, applications for market approval and commercialization of Lecanemab for Alzheimer's disease. BioArctic has no development costs for Leqembi in Alzheimer's disease and is entitled to payments in connection with certain regulatory approvals, and sales milestones as well as royalty of 9 percent on global sales. In addition, BioArctic has the right to commercialize Leqembi in the Nordic region, pending European approval, and currently Eisai and BioArctic are preparing for a joint commercialization in the region.
About BioArctic AB:
BioArctic AB (publ) is a Swedish research-based biopharma company focusing on innovative treatments that can delay or stop the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The company invented Leqembi® (lecanemab) – the world's first drug proven to slow the progression of the disease and reduce cognitive impairment in early Alzheimer's disease. Leqembi has been developed together with BioArctic's partner Eisai, who are responsible for regulatory interactions and commercialization globally. In addition to Leqembi, BioArctic has a broad research portfolio with antibodies against Parkinson's disease and ALS as well as additional projects against Alzheimer's disease. Several of the projects utilize the company's proprietary BrainTransporter™ technology, which has the potential to actively transport antibodies across the blood-brain barrier to enhance the efficacy of the treatment. BioArctic's B share (BIOA B) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Large Cap.
For more information, please visit www.bioarctic.com.