Medicare Spending Forecast For Leqembi Reflects CMS Angst About Alzheimer’s Drug Costs

 
• By Cathy Kelly

The agency’s projection that Medicare will spend $3.5bn on Leqembi in 2025 is nearly three times the level of sales that marketer Eisai is expecting for the drug in North and South America combined in its fiscal year 2026.

Medicare is the lead US payer for Alzheimer's drugs. • Source: Shutterstock

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services appear to be anticipating much stronger near-term uptake of Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen, Inc.’s Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb) for Alzheimer's disease than the companies do, based on a forecast recently disclosed by the agency.

Key Takeaways

  • Medicare Part B spending on Leqembi for Alzheimer’s will total $3.5bn in 2025, according to CMS.

CMS expects Medicare Part B spending on Leqembi will reach approximately $3.5bn in 2025 across the fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage...

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