Canada Clears Path for Public Reimbursement of Alzheimer’s Drug Leqembi

The recommendation marks a significant milestone for BioArctic and its partner Eisai, the developers of the monoclonal antibody treatment. With the agency’s approval secured, the focus now shifts to negotiations through the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance. These discussions will determine the specific financial terms before individual public drug plans finalize their own coverage policies.

Demographic pressures underscore the urgency of the decision. Health experts estimate that over 770,000 Canadians were living with dementia in 2025, a figure projected to surge to 1.7 million by 2050. By targeting amyloid-beta proteins in the brain, the drug aims to slow cognitive decline in patients with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment. While this marks a major regulatory hurdle cleared, the actual availability of the drug for patients remains subject to the outcome of upcoming provincial and territorial reimbursement agreements.