Japanese drugmaker Eisai and US-based Biogen have been working together on advancing research in the space of Alzheimer’s for nearly a decade. Finally, the FDA, granted the fruits of that labor, Leqembi, its blessing for intravenous use. This marks the first approved treatment that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
This is really good! I really hope it is affordable as well.
Unfortunately the article states a yearly treatment cost would be about $90K with all expenses factored in. Patients with Medicare will likely not be able to get coverage for this, and Medicaid will still require a copay of 20%.
Like every other industry, pharmaceutical companies are profit driven and will maximize their revenue whenever possible, especially when they know the patient population is desperate.
A big example of this was when Pfizer discontinued their research program to cure heart disease, since it is more profitable to charge patients for statins for the rest of their life than it is to cure them.