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Canada Drug Agency: Lecanemab Not Recommended for Public Plans
20 Feb
Summary
- Canada's Drug Agency recommended against public drug plan coverage for lecanemab.
- Lecanemab slows cognitive decline but is not a cure for Alzheimer's.
- The drug costs nearly $30,000 annually and has rare side-effect risks.
Canada's Drug Agency has issued a draft recommendation against including lecanemab, a treatment for early-stage Alzheimer's disease, on public drug plans. The drug, approved conditionally by Health Canada in October 2025, targets amyloid plaque buildup in the brain. Clinical trials indicated it slowed cognitive and functional decline by 27% over 18 months compared to a placebo. However, the agency noted the drug is not a cure and has associated risks, including rare brain microbleeds and swelling.
The annual cost for lecanemab treatment is nearly $30,000, with patients requiring documented amyloid plaques and genetic testing for specific gene variants like APOE4. This proposed non-coverage mirrors decisions made by Quebec's drug agency in December 2025 and Britain's NICE in 2024, which deemed the benefits insufficient to justify the cost. The Canadian agency's recommendation is open for public feedback until March 5 before a final decision is made.
