Lecanemab, the first medicine licenced in Great Britain shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, will not be offered within the National Health Service (NHS) because it was deemed to not be a cost-effective use of limited NHS funding by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Lecanemab, shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by approximately 4 to 6 months, was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on August 22, 2024, for use in adults in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by the abnormal accumulation of extracellular plaque deposits of amyloid beta, and tau neurofibrillary tangles, thought to contribute to the cognitive decline seen in the disease. Lecanemab is a monoclonal antibody which is thought to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease through its ability to reduce the size of amyloid beta plaques in the brain.

Lecanemab is administered intravenously every two weeks, and each infusion lasts approximately one hour. Since amyloid beta proteins also accumulate in the walls of small blood vessels, Lecanemab has been associated with side effects, including brain swelling and bleeding in the brain. Whilst these side effects can be closely monitored using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, this is very costly.

Given the high costs associated with purchasing Lecanemab, and high costs associated with administering and monitoring the side effects of the drug, NICE did not recommend Lecanemab for use on the NHS since the small benefits to patients did not justify the high cost to the UK taxpayer.”