'Game-changer' self-injectable drug that can slow Alzheimer's progression by up to 8 years approved in US - and could soon be available on NHS

By SHAUN WOOLLER, EXECUTIVE HEALTH EDITOR Published: 19:41, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 19:43, 14 July 2026 A self-injectable drug that slows Alzheimer’s progression by up to eight years has been approved in the US and could soon be available on the NHS. The ‘game-changer’ jab is taken once a week and can be administered at home in just 15 seconds, sparing users the need to visit a hospital. It was previously given via intravenous drip, which took an hour to infuse and placed a heavy burden on patients, medical staff and beds. The drip version is available privately in the UK but drugs watchdog NICE ruled it should not be offered on the NHS as it did not offer value for money. This was largely due to the resource-intensive delivery method, which could be hundreds of pounds a time, excluding the cost of the drug itself. The US Food and Drug Administration today approved the use of the injectable version of lecanemab for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease, saying patients could go straight to jabs without needing to start on infusions. It will be available to purchase in the US from next month. Charities tonight said the development raises hopes that the drug would pass NICE’s affordability tests, paving the way for it to be offered on the NHS. The US Food and Drug Administration today approved the use of the injectable version of lecanemab for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease. Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘An injectable version of lecanemab from the start of treatment would be a game-changer in terms of convenience for people and affordability of administration for health services. ‘The UK is at risk of falling further behind as we continue to wrangle on the licensed treatments which are not currently available on the NHS. ‘The cost of IV infusions has been identified as one of the key barriers to cost effectiveness. ‘UK patients and their families are waiting for these advances to be available and the government needs to fulfil its manifesto commitment to put Britain at the forefront of transforming treatment for dementia.’ The UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), is expected to follow the FDA’s ruling when they consider an application from Japanese drug maker Eisai. A trial presented at an Alzheimer’s conference in December showed lecanemab could delay disease progression from mild cognitive impairment to moderate Alzheimer’s disease by 8.3 years among patients with low levels of amyloid protein in the brain and who started treatment at an early stage. Mild cognitive impairment due to AD is the earliest symptomatic stage of Alzheimer’s disease and can appear with subtle symptoms such as forgetfulness, confusion, or feeling at a loss for words. Announcing the FDA approval, Eisai said the weekly jab is expected to be as effective as the intravenous treatment and have a similar safety profile, while placing less of a ‘burden’ on healthcare systems. Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said an injectable version of lecanemab from the start of treatment would be a 'game-changer'. It added that the new formulation was ‘highly preferred by patients’, with 97 per cent saying they were satisfied with it. Users loved its speed, convenience and less painful administration, along with the ability to travel away from home and not be near a hospital. Lecanemab represents a huge step forward in research because it targets a known cause of the disease, rather than just treating symptoms. It binds to amyloid, a protein which builds up in the brains of people living with Alzheimer’s disease. By binding to amyloid, the drugs are designed to help clear the build-up and slow down cognitive decline. Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said people living with dementia are ‘desperate’ for new treatments that offer them more time before symptoms worsen. But he cautioned: ‘The reality is that even if lecanemab was made available on the NHS tomorrow, our healthcare system isn’t ready to deliver it. ‘A third of people with dementia in the UK do not have a diagnosis, and services aren’t equipped with the staff and tools needed to diagnose more people at pace and monitor people on new treatments were they available. ‘We need to see urgent investment in preparing health systems for delivering new treatments, coupled with clear national targets on early and on accurate diagnosis to ensure the right people can access the right treatments at the time when they’re most effective.’ The list price for the subcutaneous treatment in the US is £288 per auto injector, which equates to an induction treatment cost of £29,900 per patient per year. The induction IV treatment list price in the US is £19,800 a year for a patient weighing 70 kg, excluding the cost of delivering the drug. Both treatments can be reduced to a less frequent ‘maintenance’ regime after 18 months, which will cost less per year. NICE’s appraisal committee met earlier this month to consider new evidence after its decision to reject the use of intravenous lecanemab and a similar drug on the NHS was appealed. It is expected to deliver its finding next month. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government is delivering the ‘biggest expansion of NHS diagnostics in a generation’. They added: ‘We will continue to invest in the latest technology and expanding the workforce so patients can get the care they need quickly.’