Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai has launched LEQEMBI (lecanemab) in India following marketing authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), making it the country's first disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease.

LEQEMBI is indicated for patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and mild dementia due to early Alzheimer's disease. 

Unlike conventional therapies that primarily address symptoms, the monoclonal antibody targets the underlying disease biology by selectively binding to aggregated amyloid-beta, promoting plaque clearance while reducing further deposition.

The launch comes as India's dementia burden continues to rise. According to estimates from the AIIMS–USC LASI study, around 8.8 million Indians aged 60 years and above were living with dementia in 2023, representing a prevalence of 7.4%, with the number expected to nearly double by 2036.

LEQEMBI has already been approved in several major markets, including the United States, Japan, Europe, and other countries. Patients receiving the therapy require confirmation of amyloid pathology through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or serum beta-amyloid biomarkers, while emerging blood-based biomarkers such as p-tau217 and amyloid ratios are expected to support broader patient identification.

Ritesh Jain, Head of Commercial Operations, Eisai India, said, "What is promising about LEQEMBI (lecanemab) is its ability to intervene early in the disease process. Identifying the right patient at the right time will be critical to maximizing outcomes."

Takuya Kijima, Managing Director, Eisai India, said, "Access and awareness remain critical barriers in Alzheimer's disease care in India. Our support programmes are aimed at helping eligible patients initiate and continue therapy, in line with our human health care (hhc) philosophy."