Leqembi® approved for IV maintenance treatment in the United Kingdom
Rhea-AI Summary
BioArctic (NASDAQ: B) partner Eisai received MHRA approval in the United Kingdom for Leqembi (lecanemab) as a once-every-four-weeks IV maintenance treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease on November 14, 2025.
After an initial 18-month induction of 10 mg/kg every two weeks, patients may be transitioned to 10 mg/kg every four weeks or remain on the two-week schedule. Leqembi previously received a UK approval in August 2024 for treatment of MCI and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s in ApoE ε4 heterozygotes and non-carriers. BioArctic and Eisai are preparing joint commercialization in the Nordic region, where BioArctic holds commercialization rights.
Positive
- MHRA approval for IV maintenance dosing every 4 weeks in the UK
- Label allows transition after 18 months from biweekly to monthly dosing
- BioArctic retains Nordic commercialization rights and plans joint commercialization
Negative
- UK label remains limited to specified ApoE ε4 genotypes from prior approval
- Some patients may still require ongoing biweekly infusions, sustaining treatment burden
News Market Reaction 2 Alerts
On the day this news was published, BIOA declined 3.62%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -15.8% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 2 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $10M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $277M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
In August 2024, Leqembi was approved for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in adult patients that are apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4)[1] heterozygotes or non-carriers in the
In the
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 commercialization of Leqembi for Alzheimer's disease. BioArctic has the right to commercialize Leqembi in the Nordic region together with Eisai and the two companies are preparing for a joint commercialization in the region.
The information was released for public disclosure, through the agency of the contact person below, on November 14, 2025, at 00:30 a.m. CET.
For further information, please contact:
Oskar Bosson, VP Communications and Investor Relations
E-mail: oskar.bosson@bioarctic.com
Telephone: +46 704 107 180
About lecanemab (Leqembi
®
)
Lecanemab is the result of a strategic research alliance between BioArctic and Eisai. 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 51 countries including the
Leqembi's approvals in these countries were 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 primary endpoint was the global cognitive and functional scale, Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB).[4] Leqembi Iqlik™ is approved for subcutaneous dosing with an autoinjector for maintenance treatment of early Alzheimer's disease in the US. In September 2025, a rolling sBLA application for the subcutaneous initiation dosing with Leqembi Iqlik was also initiated to the
Since July 2020, Eisai's Phase 3 clinical study (AHEAD 3-45) with lecanemab in individuals with preclinical AD, meaning they are clinically normal and have intermediate or elevated levels of amyloid in their brains, is ongoing. The study was fully recruited in October 2024. AHEAD 3-45 is a four-year study conducted as a public-private partnership between Eisai, Biogen and the Alzheimer's Clinical Trial Consortium that provides the infrastructure for academic clinical trials in AD and related dementias in the
About the collaboration between BioArctic and Eisai
Since 2005, BioArctic has a long-term collaboration with Eisai regarding the development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The most important agreements are the Development and Commercialization Agreement for the lecanemab antibody, which was signed 2007, and the Development and Commercialization agreement for the antibody Leqembi back-up for Alzheimer's disease, which was signed 2015. In 2014, Eisai and Biogen entered into a joint development and commercialization agreement for lecanemab. Eisai is responsible for the clinical development, application for market approval and commercialization of the products for Alzheimer's disease. BioArctic has the right to commercialize lecanemab in the Nordic region and is currently preparing for commercialization in the Nordics together with Eisai. BioArctic has no development costs for lecanemab in Alzheimer's disease and is entitled to payments in connection with sales milestones as well as royalties on global sales.
About BioArctic AB
BioArctic AB (publ) is a Swedish research-based biopharma company focusing on innovative treatments that can delay or stop the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The company invented Leqembi® (lecanemab) – the world's first drug proven to slow the progression of the disease and reduce cognitive impairment in early Alzheimer's disease. Leqembi has been developed together with BioArctic's partner Eisai, who are responsible for regulatory interactions and commercialization globally. In addition to Leqembi, BioArctic has a broad research portfolio with antibodies against Parkinson's disease and ALS as well as additional projects against Alzheimer's disease. Several of the projects utilize the company's proprietary BrainTransporter™ technology, which has the potential to actively transport antibodies across the blood-brain barrier to enhance the efficacy of the treatment. BioArctic's B share (BIOA B) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Large Cap. For further information, please visit www.bioarctic.com.
[1] Apolipoprotein E is a protein involved in the metabolism of lipid in humans. It is implicated in AD. People with only one (heterozygous) or no copy (non-carriers) of the ApoE ε4 gene are less likely to experience ARIA than people with two ApoE ε4 copies (homozygous).
[2] Alzheimer's Society. 2024. The economic impact of dementia. Available at: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/policy-and-influencing/dementia-scale-impact-numbers. Last accessed: August 2024.
[3] World Health Organization. 2023. Dementia. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia. Last accessed: August 2024
[4] Eisai presents full results of lecanemab Phase 3 confirmatory Clarity AD study for early Alzheimer's disease at Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) conference. Available at: https://www.eisai.co.jp/news/2022/news202285.html
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SOURCE BioArctic