"LEQEMBI®" (Lecanemab) for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease Launched in South Korea

Rhea-AI Summary

Eisai and Biogen have launched LEQEMBI® in South Korea following its approval by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in May 2024. The drug is approved for treating adult patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild AD dementia. LEQEMBI is the first approved treatment that reduces disease progression by targeting soluble and insoluble Aβ aggregates in the brain.

South Korea has approximately 900,000 dementia patients, with AD accounting for 70% of cases. The average annual care costs per dementia patient are estimated at 21.1 million South Korean Won, rising to 33.1 million Won for severe cases. Eisai Korea Inc. will handle distribution and launch the drug in the private market, including establishing a Patient Assistance Program.

Positive

• First approved treatment in South Korea showing reduction in AD disease progression
• Large market potential with 900,000 dementia patients in South Korea
• Establishment of Patient Assistance Program to improve drug accessibility

Negative

• None.

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The launch of LEQEMBI in South Korea represents a significant market expansion for Biogen and Eisai in a country with substantial unmet medical needs. With approximately 900,000 dementia patients and 70% being Alzheimer's cases, the addressable market is considerable. The average annual care cost of 21.1 million KRW per patient indicates strong pricing potential.

The drug's unique mechanism targeting both soluble and insoluble Aβ aggregates differentiates it from competitors. As the first approved treatment demonstrating disease progression reduction, LEQEMBI has a strong competitive advantage. The private market launch strategy with a Patient Assistance Program suggests a focus on premium positioning while ensuring accessibility.

Eisai's established presence in Korea's dementia ecosystem and partnerships with key stakeholders should facilitate market penetration. The collaboration model between Eisai and Biogen, with Eisai leading development but shared commercialization, optimizes their respective strengths while maintaining clear decision-making authority.

TOKYO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, "Eisai") and Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB, Corporate headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts, CEO: Christopher A. Viehbacher, "Biogen") announced today that the humanized anti-soluble aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) monoclonal antibody "LEQEMBI^®" has been launched in South Korea. LEQEMBI received the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) approval in May 2024 for treatment in adult patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild AD dementia (early AD).

LEQEMBI selectively binds to soluble Aβ aggregates (protofibrils*), as well as insoluble Aβ aggregates (fibrils) which are a major component of Aβ plaques in AD, thereby reducing both Aβ protofibrils and Aβ plaques in the brain. LEQEMBI is the first approved treatment shown to reduce the rate of disease progression and to slow cognitive and functional decline through this mechanism.

It is estimated there were approximately 900,000 dementia patients in South Korea in 2021,¹ with one in ten people over the age of 65 suffering from dementia,¹ and one in five from mild cognitive impairment (MCI).² It is reported that Alzheimer's dementia patients account for about 70% of all dementia patients.² The average annual nursing care/medical costs per dementia patient is estimated to be 21.1 million South Korean Won (KRW), while the cost for patients with severe dementia reaches 33.1 million KRW.¹

Eisai serves as the lead of LEQEMBI development and regulatory submissions globally with both Eisai and Biogen co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision-making authority. In South Korea, Eisai Korea Inc. will distribute the product and conduct information provision activities.

Eisai Korea Inc. has been a pioneer in the field of dementia for many years, focusing on activities such as raising disease awareness. In recent years, Eisai Korea Inc. has been working with various stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, academic societies, patient groups, care centers, health checkup companies, and diagnostic companies, to create a dementia ecosystem that promotes AD awareness and early diagnosis/treatment. Eisai Korea Inc. will first launch this drug in the private market, including the establishment of a Patient Assistance Program, to deliver lecanemab to patients awaiting the treatment, aiming to make an impact not only on patients but also on their caregiving families and South Korean society.

* Protofibrils are believed to contribute to the brain injury that occurs with AD and are considered to be the most toxic form of Aβ, having a primary role in the cognitive decline associated with this progressive, debilitating condition.³ Protofibrils cause injury to neurons in the brain, which in turn, can negatively impact cognitive function via multiple mechanisms, not only increasing the development of insoluble Aβ plaques but also increasing direct damage to brain cell membranes and the connections that transmit signals between nerve cells or nerve cells and other cells. It is believed the reduction of protofibrils may prevent the progression of AD by reducing damage to neurons in the brain and cognitive dysfunction.⁴

Notes to Editors

1.     About Lecanemab
Lecanemab is the result of a strategic research alliance between Eisai and BioArctic. It is a humanized immunoglobulin gamma 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against aggregated soluble (protofibril) and insoluble forms of amyloid-beta (Aβ).

Lecanemab is approved in the U.S., Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Great Britain 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). The treatment's approvals in these countries was based on Phase 3 data from Eisai's global Clarity AD clinical trial, in which it met its primary endpoint and all key secondary endpoints with statistically significant results. The most common adverse events (>10%) in the lecanemab group were infusion reactions, ARIA-H (combined cerebral microhemorrhages, cerebral macrohemorrhages, and superficial siderosis), ARIA-E (edema/effusion), headache, and fall.

Lecanemab is marketed in the U.S., Japan, China, Great Britain and others, and is under regulatory review in 17 countries and regions, including the European Union. In November 2024, the treatment received positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommending approval.

Since July 2020 the Phase 3 clinical study (AHEAD 3-45) for individuals with preclinical AD, meaning they are clinically normal and have intermediate or elevated levels of amyloid in their brains, is ongoing. AHEAD 3-45 is conducted as a public-private partnership between the Alzheimer's Clinical Trial Consortium that provides the infrastructure for academic clinical trials in AD and related dementias in the U.S, funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, Eisai and Biogen. Since January 2022, the Tau NexGen clinical study for Dominantly Inherited AD (DIAD), that is conducted by Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU), led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is ongoing and includes lecanemab as the backbone anti-amyloid therapy.

2.     About the Collaboration between Eisai and Biogen for AD
Eisai and Biogen have been collaborating on the joint development and commercialization of AD treatments since 2014. Eisai serves as the lead of lecanemab development and regulatory submissions globally with both companies co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision-making authority.

3.     About the Collaboration between Eisai and BioArctic for AD
Since 2005, Eisai and BioArctic have had a long-term collaboration regarding the development and commercialization of AD treatments. Eisai obtained the global rights to study, develop, manufacture and market lecanemab for the treatment of AD pursuant to an agreement with BioArctic in December 2007. The development and commercialization agreement on the antibody back-up was signed in May 2015.

4.     About Eisai Co., Ltd.
Eisai's Corporate Concept is "to give first thought to patients and people in the daily living domain, and to increase the benefits that health care provides." Under this Concept (also known as human health care (hhc) Concept), we aim to effectively achieve social good in the form of relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to create and deliver innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology.

In addition, we demonstrate our commitment to the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which is a target (3.3) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by working on various activities together with global partners.

For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com (for global headquarters: Eisai Co., Ltd.), and connect with us on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.

5.     About Biogen
Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines to transform patients' lives and to create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply deep understanding of human biology and leverage different modalities to advance first-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior outcomes. Our approach is to take bold risks, balanced with return on investment to deliver long-term growth.

The company routinely posts information that may be important to investors on its website at www.biogen.com. Follow Biogen on social media – Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube.

Biogen Safe Harbor
This news release contains forward-looking statements, about the potential clinical effects of lecanemab; the potential benefits, safety and efficacy of lecanemab; potential regulatory discussions, submissions and approvals and the timing thereof; the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; the anticipated benefits and potential of Biogen's collaboration arrangements with Eisai; the potential of Biogen's commercial business and pipeline programs, including  lecanemab; and risks and uncertainties associated with drug development and commercialization. These statements may be identified by words such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "possible," "potential," "will," "would" and other words and terms of similar meaning. Drug development and commercialization involve a high degree of risk, and only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Results in early-stage clinical studies may not be indicative of full results or results from later stage or larger scale clinical studies and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements.

These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including without limitation unexpected concerns that may arise from additional data, analysis or results obtained during clinical studies; the occurrence of adverse safety events; risks of unexpected costs or delays; the risk of other unexpected hurdles; regulatory submissions may take longer or be more difficult to complete than expected; regulatory authorities may require additional information or further studies, or may fail or refuse to approve or may delay approval of Biogen's drug candidates, including lecanemab; actual timing and content of submissions to and decisions made by the regulatory authorities regarding lecanemab; uncertainty of success in the development and potential commercialization of lecanemab; failure to protect and enforce Biogen's data, intellectual property and other proprietary rights and uncertainties relating to intellectual property claims and challenges; product liability claims; and third party collaboration risks, results of operations and financial condition. The foregoing sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from Biogen's expectations in any forward-looking statement. Investors should consider this cautionary statement as well as the risk factors identified in Biogen's most recent annual or quarterly report and in other reports Biogen has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Biogen does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.

References 

1. Korean dementia observatory 2022: National Institute of Dementia (Korean)
2. Korean dementia observatory 2021: National Institute of Dementia (Korean)
3. Amin L, Harris DA. Aβ receptors specifically recognize molecular features displayed by fibril ends and neurotoxic oligomers. Nat Commun. 2021;12:3451. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23507-z
4. Ono K, Tsuji M. Protofibrils of Amyloid-β are Important Targets of a Disease-Modifying Approach for Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(3):952. doi: 10.3390/ijms21030952. PMID: 32023927; PMCID: PMC7037706.

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SOURCE Eisai Inc.

FAQ

When did LEQEMBI (BIIB) receive approval in South Korea?

LEQEMBI received approval from South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in May 2024.

What is the target patient population for LEQEMBI (BIIB) in South Korea?

LEQEMBI is approved for adult patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease or mild AD dementia (early AD).

What are the annual care costs for dementia patients in South Korea where LEQEMBI (BIIB) is launching?

The average annual care costs are 21.1 million South Korean Won per dementia patient, increasing to 33.1 million Won for severe cases.

How many potential patients could benefit from LEQEMBI (BIIB) in South Korea?

With approximately 900,000 dementia patients in South Korea, and Alzheimer's accounting for 70% of cases, there is a significant potential patient population.