FDA Approves Breakthrough Alzheimer's Drug to Slow Disease Progression

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to the Alzheimer's drug Leqembi, making it the first medication to slow the progression of the disease. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will expand coverage of the drug, providing access to an estimated one million people with early forms of Alzheimer's. Leqembi, developed by Eisai and Biogen, received accelerated approval in January but faced limited use due to coverage restrictions. The drug, which costs $26,500 annually, was shown to slow cognitive decline by 27% in an 18-month clinical trial. However, it comes with side effects and requires regular brain imaging monitoring.