Medicare beneficiaries are using the newly approved Alzheimer’s medications Leqembi and Kisunla at a rate significantly lower than federal officials projected, according to a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The uptake has been so minimal that Medicare does not anticipate substantial spending on these drugs in 2026 or 2027. This marks a stark contrast from 2022, when Medicare estimated it would spend billions annually on Leqembi alone.
Why Are Alzheimer’s Drug Costs So Low?
Neurologists and Medicare experts interviewed by STAT attribute the lower-than-expected spending to several key challenges:
- Complex administration: Both Leqembi and Kisunla require intravenous infusions, making them difficult to deliver in clinical settings.
- Extensive monitoring requirements: Patients must undergo frequent brain imaging to track potential side effects.
- Limited eligible patient population: The drugs are approved only for individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, reducing the potential user base.
- Modest benefits and safety risks: Studies show the medications provide limited cognitive benefits while carrying serious risks, including brain bleeding (ARIA).
These factors have contributed to a cautious approach among patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers, leading to slower adoption.
Related articles
Do 'Blue Zones' Really Prove Longevity? Experts Weigh the Science
Below is a lightly edited, AI-generated transcript of the “First Opinion Podcast” interview with Shelley Wood and Eric Topol. Be sure to sign up for t...
Takeda to Pay $13.6M for Alleged Kickbacks to Doctors Prescribing Antidepressant
Takeda Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $13.6 million to settle allegations that it paid kickbacks to doctors to prescribe an antidepressant and, consequ...
Why Alcohol Remains Overlooked Despite Its Deadly Toll in the U.S.
Alcohol kills more Americans than any other drug by a wide margin. But discussions about substance use epidemics in the U.S. are usually centered arou...
U.S. Pressures Germany to Increase Payments for Prescription Drugs Amid Trade Tensions
WASHINGTON — Over a recent breakfast, U.S. officials had a message for the German ambassador: pay more for pharmaceuticals. The meeting, between U.S....
Why Changing Pill Colors and Shapes at 73 Are More Than Just an Annoyance
At the ripe old age of 73, I take six drugs — four prescription and two over-the-counter pills — every day. I keep careful track of them. But recently...
STAT Unveils 'The Deadliest Drug' Investigation: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surpass 178,000 Annually in the U.S.
Dear Readers, I want to bring your attention to “The Deadliest Drug,” a new STAT investigative series about our nation’s failure to address excessive...
Who Will Lead the FDA Next? The Search for a New Commissioner Heats Up
You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to...
Study Links High Air Pollution to Increased Post-Surgical Complications on Utah’s Wasatch Front
New research on Utah’s Wasatch Front—which occasionally experiences the worst air quality in the nation—has found an association between high air poll...