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Review
. 2024 Jan;44(1):1-10.
doi: 10.1007/s40261-023-01331-1. Epub 2023 Dec 14.

Lecanemab: More Questions Than Answers!

Upinder Kaur  1 , Jaideep Reddy  2 , Ashutosh Tiwari  3 , Sasanka Chakrabarti  4 , Sankha Shubhra Chakrabarti  5
Affiliations
Review

Lecanemab: More Questions Than Answers!

Upinder Kaur et al. Clin Drug Investig. 2024 Jan.

Abstract

The approval of lecanemab by the US Food and Drug Administration has been touted as a defining moment in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Lecanemab, an anti-amyloid beta monoclonal antibody, is the first Alzheimer's disease drug targeting amyloid beta that has shown statistically significant cognitive benefits in phase III trials. However, there have been many questions raised over the clinical relevance of the otherwise minimal cognitive improvements. Furthermore, its rapid approval has been mired in controversy, in addition to the reports of adverse events such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities and several deaths of participants in the lecanemab trials. Here, we analyze the evidence supporting lecanemab as an amyloid beta therapy and also discuss the concerns raised about its efficacy and safety.

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