Brand Name
Leqembi
Generic Name
Lecanemab
View Brand Information FDA approval date: January 06, 2023
Classification: Amyloid Beta-directed Antibody
Form: Injection
What is Leqembi (Lecanemab)?
LEQEMBI is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment with LEQEMBI should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials. LEQEMBI is an amyloid beta-directed antibody indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment with LEQEMBI should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials.
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Brand Information
LEQEMBI (lecanemab)
WARNING: AMYLOID RELATED IMAGING ABNORMALITIES
Monoclonal antibodies directed against aggregated forms of beta amyloid, including LEQEMBI, can cause amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), characterized as ARIA with edema (ARIA-E) and ARIA with hemosiderin deposition (ARIA-H). Incidence and timing of ARIA vary among treatments. ARIA usually occurs early in treatment and is usually asymptomatic, although serious and life-threatening events can occur. ARIA can be fatal. Serious intracerebral hemorrhages > 1 cm, some of which have been fatal, have been observed in patients treated with this class of medications. Because ARIA-E can cause focal neurologic deficits that can mimic an ischemic stroke, treating clinicians should consider whether such symptoms could be due to ARIA-E before giving thrombolytic therapy to a patient being treated with LEQEMBI [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
ApoE ε4 Homozygotes
Patients who are apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4) homozygotes(approximately 15% of Alzheimer’s disease patients) treated with this class of medications, including LEQEMBI,have a higher incidence of ARIA, including symptomatic, serious, and severe radiographic ARIA, compared to heterozygotes and noncarriers. Testing for ApoE ε4 status should be performed prior to initiation of treatment to inform the risk of developing ARIA. Prior to testing, prescribers should discuss with patients the risk of ARIA across genotypes and the implications of genetic testing results. Prescribers should inform patients that if genotype testing is not performed they can still be treated with LEQEMBI; however, it cannot be determined if they are ApoE ε4 homozygotes and at higher risk for ARIA [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
1INDICATIONS AND USAGE
LEQEMBI is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment with LEQEMBI should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials.
2DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
Lecanemab-irmb is a clear to opalescent and colorless to pale yellow solution, available as:
Intravenous Infusion
- Injection: 500 mg/5 mL (100 mg/mL) in a single-dose vial
- Injection: 200 mg/2 mL (100 mg/mL) in a single-dose vial
Subcutaneous Injection
- Injection: 360 mg/1.8 mL (200 mg/mL) in a single-dose prefilled autoinjector
3CONTRAINDICATIONS
LEQEMBI is contraindicated in patients with serious hypersensitivity to lecanemab-irmb or to any of the excipients of LEQEMBI or LEQEMBI IQLIK. Reactions have included angioedema and anaphylaxis
4ADVERSE REACTIONS
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:
- Amyloid Related Imaging Abnormalities
- Hypersensitivity Reactions
- Infusion-Related Reactions
4.1Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Clinical Trials with Intravenous Administration
The safety of LEQEMBI has been evaluated in 2090 patients who received at least one dose of LEQEMBI by intravenous infusion. In Studies 1 and 2 in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, 1059 patients received LEQEMBI 10 mg/kg every two weeks by intravenous infusion
In the combined double-blind, placebo-controlled period and long-term extension period of Studies 1 and 2, 1604 patients received LEQEMBI for at least 6 months, 1261 patients for at least 12 months, and 965 patients for 18 months.
In the double-blind, placebo-controlled period in Study 1, patients stopped study treatment because of an adverse reaction in 15% of patients treated with LEQEMBI, compared to 6% patients on placebo; in Study 2, patients stopped study treatment because of an adverse reaction in 7% of patients treated with LEQEMBI, compared to 3% patients on placebo. In Study 1, the most common adverse reaction leading to discontinuation of LEQEMBI was infusion-related reactions that led to discontinuation in 2% (4/161) of patients treated with LEQEMBI, compared to 1% (2/245) of patients on placebo. In Study 2, the most common adverse reaction leading to discontinuation of LEQEMBI was ARIA-H microhemorrhages that led to discontinuation in 2% (15/898) of patients treated with LEQEMBI, compared to <1% (1/897) of patients on placebo.
Table 5 shows adverse reactions that were reported in at least 5% of patients treated with LEQEMBI and at least 2% more frequently than in patients on placebo in Study 1.
Table 6 shows adverse reactions that were reported in at least 5% of patients treated with LEQEMBI and at least 2% more frequently than in patients on placebo in Study 2.
Less Common Adverse Reactions
Atrial fibrillation occurred in 3% of patients treated with LEQEMBI, compared to 2% in patients on placebo. In Study 1, lymphopenia or decreased lymphocyte count was reported in 4% of patients treated with LEQEMBI after the first dose, compared to less than 1% of patients on placebo
Clinical Trials with Subcutaneous Administration
The safety of LEQEMBI IQLIK for maintenance treatment was evaluated in an open-label study, which included 49 patients who received LEQEMBI IQLIK 360 mg by subcutaneous administration once every week. The overall safety profile in these patients was similar to what was observed in patients who received LEQEMBI by intravenous infusion in Study 1 and Study 2. Patients who received LEQEMBI IQLIK experienced localized and systemic injection-related reactions. Localized injection-related reactions included erythema, induration, swelling, heat, pain, pruritis, rash, ecchymosis, and hematoma. Systemic injection-related reactions were observed less frequently, with symptoms of headache, fever, and fatigue. Injection-related reactions in patients receiving LEQEMBI IQLIK were mild or moderate in severity.
5DESCRIPTION
Lecanemab-irmb is a recombinant humanized immunoglobulin gamma 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against aggregated soluble and insoluble forms of amyloid beta, and is expressed in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line. Lecanemab-irmb has an approximate molecular weight of 150 kDa.
LEQEMBI Injection for Intravenous Use
LEQEMBI (lecanemab-irmb) injection is a sterile, preservative-free, clear to opalescent and colorless to pale yellow solution for intravenous infusion after dilution. LEQEMBI is supplied in single-dose vials available in concentrations of 500 mg/5 mL (100 mg/mL) or 200 mg/2 mL (100 mg/mL).
Each mL of solution contains 100 mg of lecanemab-irmb and arginine hydrochloride (42.13 mg), histidine (0.18 mg), histidine hydrochloride monohydrate (4.99 mg), polysorbate 80 (0.50 mg), and Water for Injection at an approximate pH of 5.0.
LEQEMBI IQLIK Injection for Subcutaneous Use
LEQEMBI IQLIK (lecanemab-irmb) injection is a sterile, preservative-free, clear to opalescent and colorless to pale yellow solution for subcutaneous use. LEQEMBI IQLIK is supplied in a single-dose prefilled autoinjector available in the concentration of 360 mg/1.8 mL with a 29-gauge fixed ½-inch needle. Each LEQEMBI IQLIK autoinjector contains 360 mg/1.8 mL lecanemab-irmb formulated in: arginine hydrochloride (75.83 mg), histidine (0.25 mg), histidine hydrochloride monohydrate (9.09 mg), polysorbate 80 (0.90 mg), and Water for Injection, USP.
6CLINICAL STUDIES
The efficacy of LEQEMBI was evaluated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, randomized studies (Study 1, NCT01767311; Study 2 NCT03887455) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (patients with confirmed presence of amyloid pathology and mild cognitive impairment [64% of patients in Study 1; 62% of patients in Study 2] or mild dementia stage of disease [36% of patients in Study 1; 38% of patients in Study 2], consistent with Stage 3 and Stage 4 Alzheimer’s disease). In both studies, patients were enrolled with a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) global score of 0.5 or 1.0 and a Memory Box score of 0.5 or greater. All patients had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥22 and ≤30, and had objective impairment in episodic memory as indicated by at least 1 standard deviation below age-adjusted mean in the Wechsler-Memory Scale-IV Logical Memory II (subscale) (WMS-IV LMII). Patients were enrolled with or without concomitant approved therapies (cholinesterase inhibitors and the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist memantine) for Alzheimer’s disease. The dosage of 10 mg/kg administered once every 2 weeks by intravenous infusion was assessed in the 18-month placebo-controlled portions of Study 1 and Study 2 and continued in the optional long-term extension in each study. Transitioning to intravenous 10 mg/kg once every 4 weeks or subcutaneous 360 mg every week after 18 months of dosing is supported by pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling using observed data
Study 1
In Study 1, 856 patients were randomized to receive one of 5 doses (161 of which were randomized to the recommended dosing regimen of 10 mg/kg every two weeks) of intravenous infusion of LEQEMBI or placebo (n=247). Of the total number of patients randomized, 71.4% were ApoE ε4 carriers and 28.6% were ApoE ε4 non-carriers. During the study, the protocol was amended to no longer randomize ApoE ε4 carriers to the 10 mg/kg every two weeks dose arm. ApoE ε4 carriers who had been receiving LEQEMBI 10 mg/kg every two weeks for 6 months or less were discontinued from study drug. As a result, in the LEQEMBI 10 mg/kg every two weeks arm, 30.3% of patients were ApoE ε4 carriers and 69.7% were ApoE ε4 non-carriers. At baseline, the mean age of randomized patients was 71 years, with a range of 50 to 90 years. Fifty percent of patients were male and 90% were White.
In Study 1, a subgroup of 315 patients were enrolled in the amyloid PET substudy; of these, 277 were evaluated at Week 79. Results from the amyloid beta PET substudy are described in Figure 1 and Table 9. Plasma biomarkers are described in Table 7.
Figure 1: Reduction in Brain Amyloid Beta Plaque (Adjusted Mean Change from Baseline in Amyloid Beta PET Composite, SUVR and Centiloids) in Study 1

The primary endpoint was change from baseline on a weighted composite score consisting of selected items from the Clinical Dementia Rating scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), MMSE, and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive Subscale 14 (ADAS-Cog14) at Week 53. LEQEMBI had a 64% likelihood of 25% or greater slowing of progression on the primary endpoint relative to placebo at Week 53, which did not meet the prespecified success criterion of 80%.
Key secondary efficacy endpoints included the change from baseline in amyloid PET SUVR composite at Week 79 and change from baseline in the CDR-SB and ADAS-Cog14 at Week 79. Results for clinical assessments showed less change from baseline in CDR-SB and ADAS-Cog14 scores at Week 79 in the LEQEMBI group than in patients on placebo (CDR-SB: -0.40 [26%], 90% CI [-0.82, 0.03]; ADAS-Cog14: -2.31 [47%], 90% CI [-3.91, -0.72]).
After the 79-week double-blind, placebo-controlled period of Study 1, patients could enroll in an open-label extension period for up to 260 weeks, which was initiated after a gap period (range 9 to 59 months; mean 24 months) off treatment.
Study 2
In Study 2, 1795 patients were enrolled and randomized 1:1 to receive intravenous infusion of LEQEMBI 10 mg/kg or placebo once every 2 weeks. Of the total number of patients randomized, 69% were ApoE ε4 carriers and 31% were ApoE ε4 non-carriers. Overall median age of patients was 72 years, with a range of 50 to 90 years. Fifty-two percent were women, and 1381 (77%) were White, 303 (17%) were Asian, and 47 (3%) were Black.
The randomization was stratified according to clinical subgroup (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of the disease); the presence or absence of concomitant approved therapies for Alzheimer’s disease at baseline (cholinesterase inhibitors and the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist memantine); ApoE ε4 carrier status; and geographical region.
The primary efficacy outcome was change from baseline at 18 months in the CDR-SB. Key secondary endpoints included change from baseline at 18 months for the following measures: amyloid Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using Centiloids, ADAS-Cog14, and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living Scale for Mild Cognitive Impairment (ADCS MCI-ADL).
LEQEMBI treatment met the primary endpoint and reduced clinical decline on the global cognitive and functional scale, CDR-SB, compared to placebo at 18 months (-0.45 [-27%],
Statistically significant differences (
Both ApoE ε4 carriers and ApoE ε4 noncarriers showed statistically significant treatment differences for the primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints. In an exploratory subgroup analysis of ApoE ε4 homozygotes, which represented 15% of the trial population, a treatment effect was not observed with LEQEMBI treatment on the primary endpoint, CDR-SB, compared to placebo, although treatment effects that favored LEQEMBI were observed for the secondary clinical endpoints, ADAS-Cog14 and ADCS MCI-ADL. Treatment effects on disease-relevant biomarkers (amyloid beta PET, plasma Aβ42/40 ratio, plasma p-tau 181) also favored LEQEMBI in the ApoE ε4 homozygous subgroup.
Starting at six months, across all time points, LEQEMBI treatment showed statistically significant changes in the primary and all key secondary endpoints from baseline compared to placebo; see Figure 2.
Figure 2: Adjusted Mean Change from Baseline in CDR-SB in Study 2

7PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
Advise the patient and/or caregiver to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (
Amyloid Related Imaging Abnormalities
Inform patients that LEQEMBI may cause Amyloid Related Imaging Abnormalities or “ARIA”. ARIA most commonly presents as a temporary swelling in areas of the brain that usually resolves over time. Some people may also have small spots of bleeding in or on the surface of the brain. Inform patients that most people with swelling in areas of the brain do not experience symptoms; however, some people may experience symptoms such as headache, confusion, dizziness, vision changes, nausea, aphasia, weakness, or seizure. Instruct patients to notify their healthcare provider immediately if these symptoms occur. Clinical evaluation should be performed, and an MRI may be considered. Inform patients that serious symptoms of ARIA may occur and that ARIA can be fatal. Inform patients that events of intracerebral hemorrhage greater than 1 cm in diameter have been reported infrequently in patients taking LEQEMBI, and that the use of antithrombotic or thrombolytic medications while taking LEQEMBI may increase the risk of bleeding in the brain. Notify patients that their healthcare provider will perform MRI scans to monitor for ARIA
Inform patients that although ARIA can occur in any patient treated with LEQEMBI, there is an increased risk in patients who are ApoE ε4 homozygotes and that testing for ApoE ε4 status should be performed prior to initiation of treatment to inform the risk of developing ARIA. Prior to testing, discuss with patients the risk of ARIA across genotypes and the implications of genetic testing results. Inform patients that if testing is not performed, it cannot be determined if they are ApoE ε4 homozygotes and at a higher risk for ARIA.
Inform patients that some symptoms of ARIA-E can mimic ischemic stroke and that their healthcare providers may need to perform additional testing to determine how to treat those symptoms in patients taking LEQEMBI. Advise patients to carry information that they are being treated with LEQEMBI.
Patient Registry
Providers should encourage patients to participate in real world data collection (e.g., registries) to help further the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and the impact of Alzheimer’s disease treatments. Providers and patients can contact Eisai at 888-274-2378 for a list of currently enrolling programs
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Inform patients that hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema and anaphylaxis have occurred in patients who were treated with LEQEMBI. Advise patients to seek immediate medical attention if they experience any symptoms of serious or severe hypersensitivity reactions
Infusion-Related Reactions
For patients receiving LEQEMBI via intravenous infusion, advise them of the potential risk of infusion-related reactions, which can include flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, and changes in blood pressure. Advise patients that most infusion-related reactions occur with the first infusion but may occur with any of the infusions during treatment. Advise patients that symptoms can occur during infusion or after they leave the infusion center and to contact their healthcare provider if infusion-related reactions occur
Injection-Related Reactions
For patients receiving LEQEMBI IQLIK via subcutaneous injection, advise them of the potential risks of injection reactions, which may present as erythema, induration, swelling, heat, rash, pain, itching, ecchymosis and hematoma at the injection site, but may also present with symptoms such as headache, fever and fatigue. Instruct patients to contact their healthcare provider if injection-related reactions occur
Manufactured by
LEQEMBI
© 2025 Eisai Inc. and Biogen
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