New drug approved for Alzheimer’s disease may not be available to NHS patients?

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved lecanemab (Leqembi) for use in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, following
a thorough review of the drug’s benefits and risks.

Developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai, lecanemab is the first treatment for Alzheimer’s disease licensed for use in Great Britain, with evidence
indicating its potential to slow the disease’s progression.

Although the MHRA has granted a product license for the medicine, there are concerns about its cost and the potential delay before it becomes accessible to NHS
patients.

Pharmacist Thorrun Govind told Talk TV that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is expected to make a final decision on its cost and
availability by the end of the year.

She highlighted that the drug is currently approved for private use, and that NICE will next evaluate it, weighing patient care against the value for taxpayers,
with a final decision expected later this year.