After US approval, Japan OKs Leqembi, its first Alzheimer's drug, developed by Eisai and Biogen
Japan’s health ministry has approved Leqembi, a drug for Alzheimer’s decease that was jointly developed by Japanese and U.S. pharmaceutical companies
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's health ministry has approved Leqembi, a drug for Alzheimer’s disease that was jointly developed by Japanese and U.S. pharmaceutical companies. It's the first drug for treatment of the disease in a country with a rapidly aging population.
Developed by Japanese drugmaker Eisai Co. and U.S. biotechnology firm Biogen Inc., the drug's approval in Japan comes two months after it was endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Leqembi is for patients with mild dementia and other symptoms in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, and the first medicine that can modestly slow their cognitive decline.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who announced Japan's approval of Leqembi on Monday, called it “a breakthrough” and said that the “treatment of dementia has now entered a new era.”
