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6mo ago

Health Canada Conditionally Authorizes First Alzheimer’s Drug to Slow Early Decline

Access remains uncertain—strict eligibility rules, scarce testing capacity, pending funding decisions.

John Dalrymple-Fraser in front of family photos at his home in Peterborough Ontario. John's biggest concern is that he may forget the faces or names of his family as his disease progresses. October 27 2025.
Dr. Sharon Cohen, Neurologist, Medical Director, Site Principal Investigator at the Toronto Memory Program is photographed on Feb 28, 2024. The clinic runs trial sites for anti-dementia drugs. (Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail)
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When someone is diagnosed with dementia, a common fear is losing the ability to stay independent. The conditional approval of a medication for early Alzheimer's in Canada is being called a positive development.

Overview

  • Lecanemab (Leqembi) received conditional authorization for people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s, marking Canada’s first disease‑modifying therapy for the disease.
  • Health Canada advises against use in patients with two copies of the APOE e4 gene because of higher risks of brain swelling and microbleeds.
  • The therapy is given by IV every two weeks and requires amyloid confirmation plus MRI monitoring, including a baseline scan and four MRIs in the first year.
  • Eisai has not set a Canadian price; the U.S. list price is about US$26,500 per year, and advocates are pressing for timely public coverage to avoid inequitable access.
  • Eligibility steps such as APOE testing and amyloid PET or lumbar puncture, coupled with limited MRI and infusion capacity, are expected to constrain rollout despite approvals in roughly 50 countries.