New Alzheimer's Drug Lecanemab Launched in China with Annual Treatment Cost of RMB 180,000

The market launch of "Lecanemab Injection," a new class of drug for Alzheimer's disease, has drawn widespread attention from various sectors of society.

This is the first biologic drug in China for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. According to Eisai, the company that developed the drug,The price of each vial of Leqembi (Lecanemab) injection after its market launch in China is 2,508 yuan., specification 200 milligrams (2 milliliters) per vial. This price is comparable to the Medicare prices in the United States and Japan,Lower by one-fourth compared to the current price in the Boao pilot zone in Hainan.

Jianshi Bureau learned that the recommended dose of Lecanemab Injection is 10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, used once every two weeks. The specific cost will vary depending on the patient's body weight. According to this calculation, a patient weighing 60 kilograms would require a dosage of 600 milligrams, approximately 3 vials of the drug.The cost of a single use is approximately 7,500 yuan, the monthly treatment cost is about 15,000 yuan, and the annual treatment cost is approximately 180,000 yuan.

Eisai expects that the intravenous injection of Lecanemab will be launched in China by mid-July 2024. The company is currently actively preparing for the launch and supply of the new drug to help Alzheimer's patients use innovative drugs as soon as possible and delay disease progression. Currently, this drug is purely imported.Produced in the United States and transported to China via a fully cold-chain process.

According to the research report by Galaxy Securities, in 2022, China had over 280 million people aged 60 and above, of which 10 to 14 million were Alzheimer's patients, indicating a huge market potential.Lilly, Hengrui, SimcereMultiple pharmaceutical companies, including Eisai Co., Ltd., have related drugs in the clinical research and development stage.

Author｜Xiaomi

Editor｜Jiang Yun, Jia Ting

Operation｜Han Jinrui

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