The early Alzheimer's disease treatment Leqembi (ingredient name lecanemab) is sustaining sales growth on the back of expanded prescriptions in the United States and Japan. Global sales over the past three months totaled about 260 billion won.
In 2023, Leqembi became the world's first antibody therapy to slow the progression of early Alzheimer's disease to win full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Eisai said on the 30th that Leqembi's global sales in the first quarter of this fiscal year (April–June) rose about 27% from a year earlier to 29.3 billion yen (about $184 million). That is about 260 billion won.
Eisai disclosed Leqembi sales on a preliminary basis to align with U.S. partner Biogen's second-quarter earnings release. Eisai closes its books in March, and the fiscal year runs from April each year to the following March.
By country, the United States had the largest sales. From April to June this year, U.S. Leqembi sales rose about 69% from the same period a year earlier to 15.4 billion yen. In the same period, Japan rose about 11% to 6.1 billion yen. In contrast, China fell about 38% from 7.7 billion yen to 4.8 billion yen.
Leqembi is an antibody therapy that slows disease progression by clearing toxic aggregates (protofibrils) formed by multiple amyloid beta—known as a causative substance of Alzheimer's disease—and amyloid plaque accumulated in the brain. It has been approved in 53 countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, Korea, China, and Europe.
This month, the subcutaneous (SC) autoinjector formulation "Leqembi IQLIK" that can be self-administered won FDA approval. The industry expects its greater dosing convenience compared with the existing intravenous (IV) formulation to help expand prescriptions.
Meanwhile, Biogen raised its full-year revenue and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) outlooks at its second-quarter earnings release, helped by strong sales of growth products including Leqembi.
Biogen's Alzheimer's collaboration revenues rose 16% from a year earlier to $63.7 million (about 9.19 billion won). This reflects Biogen's share of net sales and cost of sales from Leqembi sales.
Japan's Eisai is leading global development and regulatory approval strategies in each country, and is jointly commercializing and selling the drug with U.S. company Biogen. Eisai has final decision-making authority over product development and regulatory strategy. Eisai plans to announce its overall first-quarter fiscal year results next month.