Lecanemab

Brand names: Leqembi
Drug class: Antineoplastic Agents

Usage of Lecanemab

Lecanemab-irmb has the following uses:

Lecanemab-irmb is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment with lecanemab-irmb should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials.

Relate drugs

How to use Lecanemab

General

Lecanemab-irmb is available in the following dosage form(s) and strength(s):

  • 500 mg/5 mL (100 mg/mL) injection solution in a single-dose vial
  • 200 mg/2 mL (100 mg/mL) injection solution in a single-dose vial

    • Dosage

    It is essential that the manufacturer's labeling be consulted for more detailed information on dosage and administration of this drug. Dosage summary:

    Adults

    Dosage and Administration
  • COnfirm the presence of amyloid beta pathology prior to initiating treatment.
  • Dilution in 250 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection is required prior to administration.
  • Administer as an intravenous infusion over approximately one hour via a terminal low-protein binding 0.2 micron in-line filter.
  • The recommended dosage is 10 mg/kg that must be diluted then administered as an intravenous infusion over approximately one hour, once every two weeks.

    • Warnings

    Contraindications

  • Patients with serious hypersensitivity to lecanemab-irmb or to any of the excipients. Reactions have included angioedema and anaphylaxis.

    • Warnings/Precautions

    Amyloid Related Imaging Abnormalities

    Monoclonal antibodies directed against aggregated forms of beta amyloid, including lecanemab, can cause amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), characterized as ARIA with edema (ARIA-E), which can be observed on MRI as brain edema or sulcal effusions, and ARIA with hemosiderin deposition (ARIA-H), which includes microhemorrhage and superficial siderosis. ARIA-H can occur spontaneously in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. ARIA-H associated with monoclonal antibodies directed against aggregated forms of beta amyloid generally occurs in association with an occurrence of ARIA-E. ARIA-H of any cause and ARIA-E can occur together. ARIA usually occurs early in treatment and is usually asymptomatic, although serious and life-threatening events, including seizure and status epilepticus, rarely can occur. When present, reported symptoms associated with ARIA may include headache, confusion, visual changes, dizziness, nausea, and gait difficulty. Focal neurologic deficits may also occur. Symptoms associated with ARIA usually resolve over time. The risk of ARIA, including symptomatic and serious ARIA, is increased in apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4) homozygotes. In addition to ARIA, intracerebral hemorrhages greater than 1 cm in diameter have occurred in patients treated with lecanemab.

    Consider the benefit of lecanemab for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and potential risk of serious adverse events associated with ARIA when deciding to initiate treatment with the drug.

    Symptomatic ARIA occurred in 3% (29/898) of patients treated with lecanemab in Study 2. Serious symptoms associated with ARIA were reported in 0.7% (6/898) of patients treated with lecanemab. Clinical symptoms associated with ARIA resolved in 79% (23/29) of patients during the period of observation. Similar findings were observed in Study 1. Including asymptomatic radiographic events, ARIA was observed in 21% (191/898) of patients treated with lecanemab, compared to 9% (84/897) of patients on placebo in Study 2. ARIA-E was observed in 13% (113/898) of patients treated with lecanemab compared with 2% (15/897) of patients on placebo. ARIA-H was observed in 17% (152/898) of patients treated with lecanemab compared with 9% (80/897) of patients on placebo. There was no increase in isolated ARIA-H (i.e., ARIA-H in patients who did not also experience ARIA-E) for lecanemab compared to placebo.

    Approximately 15% of Alzheimer’s disease patients are ApoE ε4 homozygotes. In Study 2, 16% (141/898) of patients in the lecanemab arm were ApoE ε4 homozygotes, 53% (479/898) were heterozygotes, and 31% (278/898) were noncarriers. The incidence of ARIA was higher in ApoE ε4 homozygotes (45% on lecanemab vs. 22% on placebo) than in heterozygotes (19% on lecanemab vs 9% on placebo) and noncarriers (13% on lecanemab vs 4% on placebo). Among patients treated with lecanemab, symptomatic ARIA-E occurred in 9% of ApoE ε4 homozygotes compared with 2% of heterozygotes and 1% of noncarriers. Serious events of ARIA occurred in 3% of ApoE ε4 homozygotes, and approximately 1% of heterozygotes and noncarriers. The recommendations on management of ARIA do not differ between ApoE ε4 carriers and noncarriers. Testing for ApoE ε4 status should be performed prior to initiation of treatment to inform the risk of developing ARIA. Prior to testing, prescribers should discuss with patients the risk of ARIA across genotypes and the implications of genetic testing results. Prescribers should inform patients that if genotype testing is not performed they can still be treated with lecanemab; however, it cannot be determined if they are ApoE ε4 homozygotes and at higher risk for ARIA. An FDA-authorized test for the detection of ApoE ε4 alleles to identify patients at risk of ARIA if treated with lecanemab is not currently available. Currently available tests used to identify ApoE ε4 alleles may vary in accuracy and design.

    The radiographic severity of ARIA associated with lecanemab-irmb was classified by the criteria shown in Table 3.

    Table 3: ARIA MRI Classification Criteria

    ARIA Type

    Mild Radiographic Severity

    Moderate Radiographic Severity

    Severe Radiographic Severity

    ARIA-E

    FLAIR hyperintensity confined to sulcus and/or cortex/suBCortex white matter in one location <5 cm

    FLAIR hyperintensity 5 to 10 cm in single greatest dimension, or more than 1 site of involvement, each measuring <10 cm

    FLAIR hyperintensity >10 cm with associated gyral swelling and sulcal effacement. One or more separate/inDependent sites of involvement may be noted.

    ARIA-H microhemorrhage

    ≤ 4 new incident microhemorrhages

    5 to 9 new incident microhemorrhages

    10 or more new incident microhemorrhages

    ARIA-H superficial siderosis

    1 focal area of superficial siderosis

    2 focal areas of superficial siderosis

    > 2 areas of superficial siderosis

    The majority of ARIA-E radiographic events occurred early in treatment (within the first 7 doses), although ARIA can occur at any time and patients can have more than 1 episode. The maximum radiographic severity of ARIA-E in patients treated with lecanemab-irmb was mild in 4% (37/398) of patients, moderate in 7% (66/898) of patients, and severe in 1% (9/898) of patients. Resolution on MRI occurred in 62% of ARIA-E patients by 12 weeks, 81% by 17 weeks, and 100% overall after detection. The maximum radiographic severity of ARIA-H microhemorrhage in patients treated with lecanemab-irmb was mild in 9% (79/898), moderate in 2% (19/898), and severe in 3% (28/898) of patients; superficial siderosis was mild in 4% (38/898), moderate in 1% (8/898), and severe in 0.4% (4/898). Among patients treated with lecanemab, the rate of severe radiographic ARIA-E was highest in ApoE ε4 homozygotes 5% (7/141), compared to heterozygotes 0.4% (2/479) or noncarriers 0% (0/278). Among patients treated with lecanemab, the rate of severe radiographic ARIA-H was highest in ApoE ε4 homozygotes 13.5% (19/141), compared to heterozygotes 2.1% (10/479) or noncarriers 1.1% (3/278).

    Intracerebral hemorrhage greater than 1 cm in diameter was reported in 0.7% (6/898) of patients in Study 2 after treatment with lecanemab compared to 0.1% (1/897) on placebo. Fatal events of intracerebral hemorrhage in patients taking lecanemab have been observed.

    In Study 2, baseline use of antithrombotic medication (aspirin, other antiplatelets, or anticoagulants) was allowed if the patient was on a stable dose. The majority of exposures to antithrombotic medications were to aspirin. Antithrombotic medications did not increase the risk of ARIA with lecanemab. The incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage was 0.9% (3/328 patients) in patients taking lecanemab with a concomitant antithrombotic medication at the time of the event compared to 0.6% (3/545 patients) in those who did not receive an antithrombotic. Patients taking lecanemab with an anticoagulant alone or combined with an antiplatelet medication or aspirin had an incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage of 2.5% (2/79 patients) compared to none in patients who received placebo.

    Because intracerebral hemorrhages greater than 1 cm in diameter have been observed in patients taking lecanemab, additional caution should be exercised when considering the administration of anticoagulants or a thrombolytic agent (e.g., tissue plasminogen activator) to a patient already being treated with lecanemab.

    Patients were excluded from enrollment in Study 2 for findings on neuroimaging that indicated an increased risk for intracerebral hemorrhage. These included findings suggestive of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (prior cerebral hemorrhage greater than 1 cm in greatest diameter, more than 4 microhemorrhages, superficial siderosis, vasogenic edema) or other lesions (aneurysm, vascular malformation) that could potentially increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. The presence of an ApoE ε4 allele is also associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy, which has an increased risk for intracerebral hemorrhage. Caution should be exercised when considering the use of lecanemab in patients with factors that indicate an increased risk for intracerebral hemorrhage and in particular for patients who need to be on anticoagulant therapy.

    Recommendations for dosing in patients with ARIA-E depend on clinical symptoms and radiographic severity. Recommendations for dosing in patients with ARIA-H depend on the type of ARIA-H and radiographic severity. Use clinical judgment in considering whether to continue dosing in patients with recurrent ARIA-E.

    Baseline brain MRI and periodic monitoring with MRI are recommended. Enhanced clinical vigilance for ARIA is recommended during the first 14 weeks of treatment with lecanemab-irmb. If a patient experiences symptoms suggestive of ARIA, clinical evaluation should be performed, including MRI if indicated. If ARIA is observed on MRI, careful clinical evaluation should be performed prior to continuing treatment.

    There is no experience in patients who continued dosing through symptomatic ARIA-E or through asymptomatic, but radiographically severe, ARIA-E. There is limited experience in patients who continued dosing through asymptomatic but radiographically mild to moderate ARIA-E. There are limited data in dosing patients who experienced recurrent ARIA-E.

    The Alzheimer’s Network for Treatment and Diagnostics (ALZ-NET) is a voluntary provider-enrolled patient registry that collects information on treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, including lecanemab-irmb. Providers may obtain information about the registry at [Web] or contact [email protected].

    Hypersensitivity Reactions

    Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema, bronchospasm, and anaphylaxis, have occurred in patients who were treated with lecanemab. Promptly discontinue the infusion upon the first observation of any signs or symptoms consistent with a hypersensitivity reaction, and initiate appropriate therapy. Lecanemab is contraindicated in patients with a history of serious hypersensitivity to lecanemab-irmb or to any of the excipients of the drug.

    Infusion-related Reactions

    In Study 2, infusion-related reactions were observed in 26% (237/898) of patients treated with lecanemab compared to 7% (66/897) of patients on placebo; and the majority (75%, 178/237) occurred with the first infusion. Infusion-related reactions were mostly mild (69%) or moderate (28%) in severity. Infusion-related reactions resulted in discontinuations in 1% (12/898) of patients treated with lecanemab. Symptoms of infusion-related reactions include fever and flu-like symptoms (chills, generalized aches, feeling shaky, and joint pain), nausea, vomiting, hypotension, hypertension, and oxygen desaturation.

    After the first infusion in Study 1, 38% of patients treated with lecanemab had transient decreased lymphocyte counts to less than 0.9 x109/L compared to 2% in patients on placebo, and 22% of patients treated with lecanemab had transient increased Neutrophil counts to greater 7.9 x109/L compared to 1% of patients on placebo. Lymphocyte and neutrophil counts were not obtained after the first infusion in Study 2.

    In the event of an infusion-related reaction, the infusion rate may be reduced, or the infusion may be discontinued, and appropriate therapy initiated as clinically indicated. Prophylactic treatment with antiHistamines, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or corticosteroids prior to future infusions may be considered.

    Specific Populations

    Pregnancy

    There are no adequate data on lecanemab-irmb use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. No animal studies have been conducted to assess the potential reproductive or developmental toxicity of lecanemab-irmb.

    In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.

    Lactation

    There are no data on the presence of lecanemab-irmb in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects of the drug on milk production. Published data from other monoclonal antibodies generally indicate low passage of monoclonal antibodies into human milk and limited systemic exposure in the breastfed infant. The effects of this limited exposure are unknown. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for lecanemab and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition.

    Pediatric Use

    Safety and effectiveness of lecanemab-irmb in pediatric patients have not been established.

    Geriatric Use

    In Studies 1 and 2, the age of patients exposed to lecanemab 10 mg/kg every two weeks (n=1059) ranged from 50 to 90 years, with a mean age of 72 years; 81% were 65 years and older, and 39% were 75 years and older. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness of lecanemab have been observed between patients 65 years of age and older and younger adult patients.

    Common Adverse Effects

    Most common adverse reactions (at approximately 10% and higher incidence compared to placebo): infusion-related reactions, amyloid related imaging abnormality-microhemorrhages, amyloid related imaging abnormality-edema/effusion, and headache.

    What other drugs will affect Lecanemab

    Specific Drugs

    It is essential that the manufacturer's labeling be consulted for more detailed information on interactions with this drug, including possible dosage adjustments. Interaction highlights:

    Please see product labeling for drug interaction information.

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