Leqembi Phase II Missed Clinical Endpoint But Still Provided Support For Amyloid Surrogate

Pink Sheet's Drug Review Profile digs into the FDA memos on Eisai/Biogen’s lecanemab; Phase II clinical efficacy results were reviewed for whether they supported the likelihood of amyloid plaque reduction to predict clinical benefit, rather than whether they directly provided substantial evidence of effectiveness.

Drug Review Profile: Leqembi
The primary clinical efficay endpoint's failure to hit its prespecified mark was no hurdle to accelerated approval. • Source: Pink Sheet/Shutterstock

The failure of Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen, Inc.’s Phase II Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb) trial on its primary clinical endpoint did not undermine the view that the drug’s ability to lower amyloid plaque is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit in Alzheimer’s disease, a US Food and Drug Administration clinical reviewer said.

In addition, although the imbalance in ApoE ε4 carriers in the lecanemab 10 mg/kg biweekly arm complicated interpretation of the...

Pink Sheet Podcast

Learn what's happening at the US FDA. On the go.

Derrick Gingery and the team bring you a weekly "Drug Fix".

More from Drug Review Profiles

Akebia’s Vafseo: Japanese Postmarketing Data, Narrowed Indication Eased Liver Toxicity Worries

 
• By 

The Pink Sheet Drug Review Profile explores the US FDA’s approval of vadadustat to treat anemia in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis. A complete response letter cited the risk of drug-induced liver injury, but postmarketing data from Japan reassured reviewers.

Vafseo Chronology: Complete Response Letter, Dispute Resolution And A Second-Cycle Approval

 
• By 

The Pink Sheet’s Drug Review Profile looks at the timeline behind the development and US FDA approval of Akebia’s Vafseo, a treatment for anemia in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis.

The Next 340B Battle: Discount Duplication With Medicare Negotiated Prices

 
• By 

Manufacturers likely will have to determine when to provide a 340B discount on a drug assigned a Medicare negotiated price under CMS guidance. PhRMA anticipates the job will not be easy.

More from Product Reviews

data

New EU Filings

 
• By 

<p>Executive Summary</p> <p>Zanidatamab, Jazz and BeiGene’s investigational treatment for biliary tract cancer, is among the latest products that have been filed for review by the European Medicines Agency for potential EU marketing approval.</p>

data

EU CHMP Opinions And MAA Updates

 
• By 

<p>Executive Summary</p> This is an update of recommendations from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use on the authorization of new medicines in the EU, and updates on EU marketing authorization changes recommended by the CHMP.

EU Biosimilar Filings, Opinions And Approvals

 
• By 

<p>Executive Summary</p> <p>A list of EU biosimilar filings, CHMP opinions and EU marketing authorizations, including details of the biosimilar company, the brand name/INN, indication(s), the reference product/company, and the date and type of event.</p>