Biogen Inc.’s stock nudged up 1% Thursday after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) reversed its initial rejection of Leqembi, an Alzheimer’s disease drug developed with Japanese partner Eisai. After months of waffling, Europe’s pharmaceutical watchdog has finally given the green light—proving once again that bureaucracy and indecision don’t stop progress when the stakes are high enough.
In July, the EMA had denied approval of the drug, citing concerns about potential brain swelling and bleeding as side effects. But here’s the kicker: Eisai requested a reexamination, and lo and behold, the EMA’s human-medicines committee came back with a more favorable opinion. “After re-examining its initial opinion, EMA’s human-medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended granting a marketing authorization to Leqembi (lecanemab) for treating mild cognitive impairment (memory and thinking problems) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease,” read the official statement.
Of course, there’s a catch. The recommendation limits Leqembi to patients who don’t carry Apoe4, a protein linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s. But still, this decision brings hope to millions in Europe who are battling Alzheimer’s. With an estimated 6.9 million Alzheimer’s patients in Europe—a figure expected to double by 2050—this drug could make a meaningful impact.
Biogen and Eisai are wasting no time capitalizing on the win, stating that Leqembi fills “a significant unmet need for new treatment options that slow down the progression of early AD and reduce the overall burden on people affected by AD and society.”
Biogen’s CEO, Christopher Viehbacher, admitted that sales of Leqembi haven’t met expectations yet, chalking up only $39 million in the third quarter versus the $55 million analysts expected. Still, with regulatory approvals in major markets like Japan and China on the horizon, the company remains optimistic.
The left will likely downplay the significance of this breakthrough or call it “elitist” because, apparently, improving health outcomes for millions doesn’t fit their narrative. But advancements like this underscore the importance of allowing free-market innovation to thrive.
Here’s the bottom line: progress in medical science, particularly in tackling devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s, happens when innovators are given room to operate. Europe’s reversal on Leqembi demonstrates the power of perseverance in the face of bureaucratic dithering. If only Democrats were as open to reevaluating their own failed policies as the EMA was to revisiting this drug’s approval process, imagine the progress we could see.
Breakthroughs like Leqembi show why capitalism—and not government interference—is the real engine of progress. Let’s hope President Trump’s return to the White House brings the same kind of decisive leadership to our healthcare system that Biogen and Eisai brought to this battle against Alzheimer’s.
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