Eisai launches Leqembi in India

Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai announced the launch of Leqembi (lecanemab) in India for the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease, following marketing authorisation from the India — Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Leqembi is a humanised monoclonal antibody that targets aggregated amyloid-beta, and is indicated for patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and mild dementia due to early Alzheimer's disease. This marks the introduction of India's first disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for Alzheimer's. The launch comes amid a growing dementia burden in India, with about 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above living with dementia in 2023, projected to nearly double by 2036. The drug is priced at Rs 21,682 per vial, with total cost varying by patient weight. Eisai will conduct a Phase IV post-marketing study in India to generate local efficacy and safety data. The launch follows Eli Lilly's introduction of Lormalzi (donanemab) in India about a month earlier, intensifying competition. Leqembi has been approved in over 50 countries, including the United States, Japan, China, and Europe. Eisai and Biogen have collaborated on development and commercialization since 2014, with Eisai leading development and regulatory submissions globally.