Swedish research-based biopharma company BioArctic AB (STO:BIOA-B) and its Japanese partner Eisai Co Ltd (TYO:4523) announced on Tuesday that Canada's Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) has issued a final recommendation supporting public reimbursement of Leqembi (lecanemab) for eligible patients in Canada with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (early AD).

This final recommendation follows a reconsideration by CDA-AMC and represents an important step toward broadening access to Leqembi in Canada, BioArctic said. Next steps include negotiations through the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, followed by reimbursement decisions by public drug plans across Canada's provinces and territories.

Leqembi is the result of a strategic research alliance between BioArctic and Eisai. It is a humanised immunoglobulin gamma 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against aggregated soluble (protofibril) and insoluble forms of amyloid-beta. Leqembi is approved in 53 countries and is under regulatory review in a further six countries.