Health Canada Approves Lecanemab
Find information about how lecanemab works for people living with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease, eligibility and access.
Lecanemab in Canada
Health Canada announced that they have provided conditional approval for lecanemab (brand name: Leqembi). This marks the first-ever disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease approved for use in Canada, which is a significant milestone.
It’s important to note that this is not a cure — it’s a treatment. Clinical trials show that lecanemab slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, but doesn’t stop it.
Only people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease will be eligible for treatment. This poses a huge challenge, given how hard it can be to get an early and accurate diagnosis. This treatment also requires trained clinical teams capable of safely delivering treatment (which must be administered intravenously), regular monitoring and access to MRIs four times a year to watch for side effects.
Making this drug accessible to Manitobans will require substantial investments in human resources, infrastructure, training and the creation of new healthcare pathways to deliver these treatments effectively and equitably.
It could take over a year for lecanemab to become available through private drug plans and more than two years through public plans. The cost of this drug in the US exceeds $20,000 per year.
Even with these complications, this may be the start that people living with dementia have been waiting for, and even more importantly, it provides more hope for the future.
View the Alzheimer Society of Canada’s full position statement on our National website.