UK Rejects Lecanemab for NHS Use

The UK's health regulator, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), has rejected the NHS offering of lecanemab, an Alzheimer's drug licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) due to its limited benefits versus its costs and risks. Although lecanemab, developed by Eisai and Biogen, has shown to slow cognitive decline by 27% in early-stage patients and is the first of its kind approved in Great Britain, concerns about serious side effects, including brain swelling and bleeding, have led to this decision. The drug is currently available in several countries, including the US, but its high cost, estimated at £20,000 per patient annually, poses an additional barrier for UK patients. Experts indicate it may only benefit a small number of patients who can afford private access, as the NHS will not cover it. The EMA previously rejected lecanemab due to similar concerns, highlighting the ongoing debate over the balance of cost, effectiveness, and safety in new Alzheimer's treatments.