ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
An assessment of the value of lecanemab for patients living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their care partners provides them and their health-care providers important information for deciding treatment initiation.
METHODS
We used data from a nationally representative sample of middle aged and older Americans combined with data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) on AD progression and data on lecanemab treatment effects from Clarity AD clinical trials. We use dynamic microsimulation modeling to quantify the long-term health and economic value of lecanemab for persons living with AD and their care partners.
RESULTS
We quantified five measures of value: quality of life of the persons living with AD and their care partners, medical costs, caregiving costs, and earnings, and estimated that lecanemab had a value of $21,398 relative to no treatment after 4 years and $37,943 after 10 years. Extending the treatment to 48 months resulted in a value of $42,821 relative to no treatment after 4 years and $95,311 after 10 years. Forty-eight months of a similar next-generation therapy but with 50% efficacy in slowing cognitive and functional decline resulted in a value of $82,116 relative to no treatment after 4 years and $189,691 after 10 years.
DISCUSSION
Over time, lecanemab treatment reduced medical costs, hours of care required from care partners, and improved quality of life. There is much value to be gained with next-generation treatments that have a larger impact on slowing decline. Considering a wider range of outcomes in future assessments will provide a more complete understanding of value to support decision making about treatment initiation and about reimbursement for payers.
HIGHLIGHTS
- There is significant value of lecanemab for persons with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
- Over time, lecanemab reduces medical costs, caregiver hours, and improves the quality of life of persons living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their care partners.
- A next-generation treatment for AD with similar features to lecanemab but higher efficacy, more than doubles the value.
- Assessing therapy value supports decision making by patients and their health-care providers.
The full study can be viewed at Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.
Tysinger B, Wei Y, Heun-Johnson H, Zissimopoulos J. Long-term value of lecanemab to individuals and families. Alzheimer’s Dement. 2025; 11:e70151. https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70151
