The Societal Value of Lecanemab for Patients With Early Alzheimer's Disease in Japan
Author(s)
Ataru Igarashi, PhD1, Mie Kasai Azuma, MSc, RPh, PhD2, Mayaka Tani, MPH2, Takuro Utsumi, BSc2, Hidetoshi Shibahara, MS3, Sachie Inoue, MBA, PhD3, Gaku Kamanaka, MSc2, Yukinori Sakata, RPh2, Hironobu Hiyoshi, PhD2, Kiyoyuki Tomita, MMA2.
1Tokyo Univ. Facul. of Pharm. Dept. of Health Economics & Outcomes Research, Tokyo, Japan, 2Eisai Co.,Ltd, Tokyo, Japan, 3CRECON MEDICAL ASSESSMENT INC., Tokyo, Japan.
1Tokyo Univ. Facul. of Pharm. Dept. of Health Economics & Outcomes Research, Tokyo, Japan, 2Eisai Co.,Ltd, Tokyo, Japan, 3CRECON MEDICAL ASSESSMENT INC., Tokyo, Japan.
OBJECTIVES: Lecanemab is the first approved disease-modified therapy in Japan for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild AD dementia (AD-D). This research aims to evaluate the societal value of lecanemab for patients with early Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Japan.
METHODS: The societal value of lecanemab was evaluated using a Markov model reflecting the progression of AD pathology. The intervention was lecanemab added to the standard of care (SOC), and the comparator was SOC alone. The treatment effect of lecanemab was determined based on the phase III CLARITY AD trial and subsequent long-term follow-up observation studies. Health outcomes were quantified in life years and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Both patient and caregiver utilities were considered using an additive approach. Public medical costs including drug costs for lecanemab based on the price at the time of listing, public long-term care costs, and societal costs (informal care costs) were considered. Costs and QALYs were discounted at 2% per year. The cost-effectiveness was assessed using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).
RESULTS: The lecanemab + SOC extended the time spent in early AD and shortened the duration of the severe condition, thereby reducing mortality, maintaining QoL, reducing caregiver burden, and reducing medical and long-term care resource usage. The incremental QALYs were 1.49 QALYs for MCI due to AD and 1.07 QALYs for mild AD-D, and the incremental costs were JPY 10.1 million and JPY 6.2 million , respectively. The ICERs were JPY 6.8 million /QALY and JPY 5.8 million /QALY, respectively (USD 1 = JPY 150).
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with lecanemab in patients with early AD slowed the progression of AD, thereby reducing the burden on patients and caregivers. Considering the disease burden of AD, the current price of lecanemab reflects its societal value for the Japanese healthcare system.
METHODS: The societal value of lecanemab was evaluated using a Markov model reflecting the progression of AD pathology. The intervention was lecanemab added to the standard of care (SOC), and the comparator was SOC alone. The treatment effect of lecanemab was determined based on the phase III CLARITY AD trial and subsequent long-term follow-up observation studies. Health outcomes were quantified in life years and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Both patient and caregiver utilities were considered using an additive approach. Public medical costs including drug costs for lecanemab based on the price at the time of listing, public long-term care costs, and societal costs (informal care costs) were considered. Costs and QALYs were discounted at 2% per year. The cost-effectiveness was assessed using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).
RESULTS: The lecanemab + SOC extended the time spent in early AD and shortened the duration of the severe condition, thereby reducing mortality, maintaining QoL, reducing caregiver burden, and reducing medical and long-term care resource usage. The incremental QALYs were 1.49 QALYs for MCI due to AD and 1.07 QALYs for mild AD-D, and the incremental costs were JPY 10.1 million and JPY 6.2 million , respectively. The ICERs were JPY 6.8 million /QALY and JPY 5.8 million /QALY, respectively (USD 1 = JPY 150).
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with lecanemab in patients with early AD slowed the progression of AD, thereby reducing the burden on patients and caregivers. Considering the disease burden of AD, the current price of lecanemab reflects its societal value for the Japanese healthcare system.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE723
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Technology Assessment
Topic Subcategory
Trial-Based Economic Evaluation
Disease
Biologics & Biosimilars, Geriatrics, Neurological Disorders