world study confirms Leqembi therapy benefits

Key Points:

• A real-world study (LEADER) involving 432 patients with early Alzheimer’s disease found that 75.9% remained clinically stable and 6.6% improved by one disease stage after an average of 17 months of treatment with the anti-amyloid therapy Leqembi (lecanemab), indicating 82.5% were stable or improved.
• Clinical stability was consistent across diverse populations regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or APOE e4 genetic status, with nearly 87% of participants continuing treatment, suggesting good treatment persistence and feasibility in routine clinical practice.
• The safety profile aligned with previous clinical trials, with 12.3% experiencing mild or asymptomatic amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), supporting the drug’s established safety in a broader patient population.
• Unlike randomized controlled trials, this retrospective observational study lacked an untreated comparison group, limiting conclusions on the direct efficacy of lecanemab; the results should be viewed as supportive evidence of real-world feasibility rather than definitive proof of treatment effect.
• Experts emphasize that while lecanemab may help maintain clinical stability and slow decline, treatment decisions should be individualized, considering risks, monitoring requirements, and patient goals within a coordinated care pathway.