UPDATE 1-EU medicines regulator rejects Eisai-Biogen Alzheimer's drug
12:40 (Adds background throughout)
July 26 (Reuters) - The European Union's drugs regulator
on Friday rejected Eisai and Biogen's
breakthrough treatment for early Alzheimer's disease, in a blow
to the drugmakers as take-up in the U.S. has been slower than
expected.
The agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
said it had recommended not granting an authorization as the
observed benefits did not counterbalance the risk of serious
side events, especially brain swelling and bleeding or
microhemorrhages.
The drug, lecanemab, is sold as Leqembi in the U.S. and was
set to be Europe's first drug to treat the neurodegenerative
condition rather than its symptoms.
It has been under review in the region since January 2023
and gained traditional approval in the U.S. last year. It is
also approved in other countries, including China and Japan.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru;
Editing by Josephine Mason and Arun Koyyur)
((Puyaan.Singh@thomsonreuters.com;))