Eisai, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, has launched Leqembi (lecanemab) in India to treat early Alzheimer’s disease following marketing approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. The drug is intended for patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer’s and marks the first disease-modifying therapy available in the country for this condition. Rising dementia rates in India stem from an ageing population, delayed diagnoses and low public awareness. An AIIMS-USC study estimates 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and older lived with dementia in 2023, with a prevalence of 7.4 percent, a figure projected to nearly double by 2036. Leqembi is a humanised monoclonal antibody that targets and clears aggregated amyloid-beta proteins while limiting further deposits. It removes plaques that trigger inflammation and nerve cell damage, which contribute to memory loss and other symptoms. Treatment requires confirmation of amyloid pathology through cerebrospinal fluid or blood biomarker tests. Ritesh Jain of Eisai India highlighted the value of early intervention and accurate patient selection. The company plans patient support programmes to aid access, though gaps in diagnosis, testing, infusion facilities and reimbursement may slow adoption.
