Lecanemab: A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Alzheimer's Disease

Lecanemab, sold under the brand name Leqembi, is a monoclonal antibody medication used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.[2][4] Lecanemab is an amyloid beta-directed antibody.[2] It is given via intravenous infusion to patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.[2] In clinical trials, it demonstrated modest efficacy in reducing relative cognitive decline compared to placebo.[5] The most common side effects of lecanemab include headache, infusion-related reactions, and amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, a side effect known to occur with the class of antibodies targeting amyloid.[6]. Lecanemab was jointly developed by Eisai and Biogen. It was granted accelerated approval for medical use in the United States in January 2023[7] and fully approved by the FDA in July 2023[4][8].