Alzheimer's drug access in Canada delayed by bureaucracy

Health Canada has approved lecanemab, a disease‑modifying drug shown to delay Alzheimer's progression by about one year, but many patients in Canada are still waiting for public or private coverage.

Health Canada recently approved the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab for people with early Alzheimer's and mild dementia. The drug is described as disease‑modifying because it reduces beta‑amyloid in the brain. Clinical results reported a delay in disease progression of about one year for eligible patients. Despite approval, many patients are still waiting for public or private coverage. Known details: - Health Canada approved lecanemab, the first Alzheimer’s drug approved in roughly 20 years. - Clinical reports indicate the treatment can delay progression by about one year for people with mild dementia caused by early Alzheimer’s. - Lecanemab works by targeting and reducing beta‑amyloid plaque and is described as disease‑modifying. - The drug is already approved in more than 50 countries and regions, and coverage decisions in Canada remain pending. Summary: The approval introduces a new category of treatment that aims at a biological cause of Alzheimer’s, but access depends on coverage decisions that have not been resolved. Undetermined at this time.