Eisai communicate how they are pricing lecanemab for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in the US

Following the approval of lecanemab for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Eisai have issued a press release outlining how they have reached the $26,500 per year cost.

On Friday Eisai, and its partner Biogen announced the approval of lecanemab (to be sold as LEQEMBI™) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The decision by the US FDA under the Accelerated Approval Pathway heralds a much-needed treatment option for patients with this devastating neurodegenerative disease.

In an unusual move, Eisai also issued a press release explaining in detail how they have reached the $26,500 average yearly cost of taking the drug.

“We consider a holistic approach in assessing value and making decisions that may affect patient access, so that our LEQEMBI pricing approach can maximize value for all stakeholders (patients, families, caregivers, healthcare providers, payers, employees and shareholders)” Eisai explained “This approach includes clinical outcome assessments of our medicines and the benefits we deliver to patients, their families and caregivers as the ‘clinical value’, as well as the projected ‘social value’ that help improve patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life and productivity.”

In providing transparency in their pricing and showing their calculation methodology, Eisai also make it clear that their pricing reflects the societal value of the medicine that could maximize value for all stakeholders, including patients, families, caregivers, healthcare providers, payers, employees and shareholders.

“Over 10 years cumulatively, the gradual adoption of LEQEMBI treatment among Early AD patients could potentially generate positive social impact of several tens of billion dollars to the US society, in the form of ‘clinical value’ that help patients delay their disease progression, projected ‘social value’ that help improve patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life and productivity, and simulated “economic value” that help reduce demand for health services.”