UK Approves Lecanemab, Access Limited by Cost

The UK has approved the Alzheimer's drug Lecanemab, which can slow cognitive decline by 27% in early-stage patients, but it will not be available through the National Health Service due to its high cost of £30,000 per patient annually. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) deemed the benefits insufficient to justify the expense, stating it could cost the NHS up to £1 billion a year. Approximately 70,000 patients who could have benefited from the treatment will be unable to access it unless they can afford private care. Alzheimer’s advocacy groups have expressed disappointment and are urging government action to improve access to potentially life-changing treatments. The drug is already being utilized in several other countries, highlighting the disparity in access to innovative therapies. Concerns over long-term side effects and the need for intensive monitoring further complicate the drug's rollout.