Swedish research-based biopharma company BioArctic AB (STO:BIOA-B) and its partner Eisai Co Ltd (TYO:4523) announced on Monday that lecanemab-irmb subcutaneous injection (US brand name: Leqembi Iqlik) is now available in the United States as a maintenance dosing regimen for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or mild dementia stage of disease (collectively referred to as early AD).

After 18 months of Leqembi intravenous (IV) treatment at 10 mg/kg every two weeks, patients may either continue IV infusions at 10 mg/kg once every four weeks or start the new weekly 360 mg subcutaneous injection using the Leqembi Iqlik autoinjector. According to BioArctic, it is the first and only anti-amyloid treatment to offer an at-home injection after initial treatment of 18 months.

Eisai and Biogen have also launched the Leqembi Companion programme which aims to provide expanded resources that support patients throughout their Leqembi treatment journey, from initiation through maintenance therapy. The companies says that the programme offers resources such as help with understanding insurance coverage and potential out-of-pocket costs and identifying financial support programmes; injection education through Nurse Educators either in-person or virtually to provide patients with training on injecting their maintenance dose using the Leqembi Iqlik; and an injection tracking tool.

Leqembi is the result of a long-standing collaboration between BioArctic and Eisai, and the antibody was originally developed by BioArctic based on the work of Professor Lars Lannfelt and his discovery of the Arctic mutation in Alzheimer's disease. Eisai is responsible for the clinical development, applications for market approval and commercialisation of Leqembi for Alzheimer's disease. BioArctic has the right to commercialise Leqembi in the Nordic region together with Eisai and the two companies are preparing for a joint commercialisation in the region.