The practices of self-testing and self-treating are gaining prominence in the medical field, and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease can now administer a portion of their treatment independently at home.
On August 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the initial at-home therapy option for Alzheimer’s disease. Lecanemab, marketed as Leqembi—previously recognized by the FDA as the inaugural medication for treating this memory impairment—is now accessible via a self-injectable pen, named Leqembi Iqlik. Individuals can utilize this pen for weekly self-administration of the drug’s maintenance doses. Developed by Eisai and Biogen, Lecanemab initially received approval as an intravenous (IV) infusion, a process lasting approximately an hour and necessitating monthly visits to infusion centers for patients. This at-home variant has been sanctioned as a maintenance therapy, allowing individuals to self-administer it subsequent to completing an initial course of the infusion treatment.
“We anticipate this will profoundly transform patient care,” stated Lynn Kramer, chief clinical officer at Eisai.
This self-injectable formulation operates similarly to auto-injector pens used for administering weight-loss medications like , and potentially broadening access to the Alzheimer’s drug for a greater population. In January 2025, the FDA granted approval for lecanemab for , though patients were still required to receive the medication through infusion at specialized centers. Presently, Iqlik offers individuals enhanced flexibility in maintaining their treatment. Upon finishing the initial 18-month treatment course with the IV form of lecanemab, patients have the option to either persist with IV infusions for maintenance doses or administer the injection themselves—with the flexibility to alternate between the two, as noted by Kramer. “One week following their final IV dose, they can commence weekly Iqlik injections,” he explained. “They retain the choice to continue with IV therapy for maintenance; subsequently, should they travel, they can transition to Iqlik.”
Sustaining lecanemab treatment is crucial for disease management, as the medication mitigates the accumulation of amyloid, present as either plaques or protofibrils; protofibrils are capable of neurotoxicity to brain neurons, fostering tau accumulation, which can impede and compromise the function of these nerve cells. “Alzheimer’s represents a progressive condition,” Kramer elaborated. “Its onset precedes plaque development, and the underlying pathophysiological processes persist even after plaque removal. This underscores the necessity of maintenance therapy.”
Within the study backing Iqlik’s approval, Eisai and Biogen demonstrated that individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease who had completed 18 months of IV treatment and subsequently shifted to the reduced-dose maintenance therapy, those self-administering Iqlik weekly exhibited comparable benefits in terms of amyloid buildup reduction when contrasted with those receiving the IV dose. Furthermore, Iqlik users presented similar incidences of side effects—notably, a specific form of brain inflammation—as observed in patients on IV maintenance.
For patients lacking insurance coverage, the annual cost for Iqlik is projected at $19,500 by Eisai, in contrast to $13,316 for a year’s worth of the IV maintenance therapy. Currently, Medicare provides coverage for lecanemab provided physicians register patients, with out-of-pocket expenses for individuals on Medicare Part D limited to $2,000 per year.
