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Lilly Launches First Amyloid-Targeting Alzheimer’s Drug in India at Rs 91,688 a Dose

Costly infusions with tight safety checks could see limited uptake.

Overview

  • Lormalzi, which received CDSCO marketing authorisation, launched in India on Wednesday with each 350 mg vial priced at Rs 91,688.
  • The once‑monthly infusion targets amyloid plaques and is used for about 18 months in early Alzheimer’s, with diagnosis and amyloid confirmation required.
  • Use requires MRI safety checks and often APOE4 genotyping, services that are scarce and costly in many areas even as India counts roughly 8.8 million people with dementia.
  • Clinical trials showed modest slowing of decline but also risks, including brain swelling in about 24% and brain bleeds in 19.7%, with three treatment‑related deaths reported.
  • A recent Cochrane review judged class‑wide benefits as absent or trivial, a conclusion Lilly disputes while also offering an access programme to lower patient costs.