The FDA gave full approval to the drug Leqembi for patients who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Here's what you need to know.
On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the drug Leqembi for patients who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and Medicare said it would cover 80% of the cost of the $26,500-per-year medication. The decisions by the two federal agencies will vastly increase access to the drug but also present a dilemma for patients and their families.
How the drug might affect a patient’s daily life is likely to vary widely. For some people, Leqembi might mean several additional months of being able to follow a recipe, balance a checkbook or accomplish other activities without help. For others, the impact might be much more subtle and barely noticeable.Yes. The drug can cause swelling or bleeding in the brain that is often mild or moderate and resolves on its own but can be serious and in very rare cases can be fatal.
About 17% of the patients receiving Leqembi experienced brain bleeding, compared with 9% of patients receiving the placebo. The most common symptom from brain bleeds was dizziness, the study said.Leqembi — which is administered by intravenous infusions in a doctor’s office or clinic every two weeks — will be available for people diagnosed as having early-stage Alzheimer’s and for those with a pre-Alzheimer’s condition called mild cognitive impairment. About 1.
There are potentially tens of thousands of dollars of additional costs, however — including medical visits for the infusions and regular brain scans. Some Alzheimer’s experts have estimated that the total cost of taking Leqembi could run to about $90,000 a year. With 80% coverage, treatment could potentially leave patients saddled with $18,000 per year in out-of-pocket costs.Talk to your doctor. If your doctor is not well-versed in Alzheimer’s treatments, consider talking with a specialist.
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