FDA Grants Full Approval to Promising Alzheimer's Drug, Boosting Biogen Stock

The FDA has granted full approval to the anti-amyloid drug Leqembi, developed by Eisai and Biogen, making it the first drug of its class to receive such approval. Leqembi targets amyloid beta, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease, and aims to slow down the progression of the neurodegenerative disease. In clinical trials, the drug was found to slow cognitive decline by 27% and reduce amyloid levels in the brain. However, there are potential side effects, including amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), which can be serious. The approval of Leqembi comes after controversy surrounding the accelerated approval of another anti-amyloid drug, Aduhelm.