Biogen scraps controversial Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm

Biogen is pulling the plug on the controversial drug Aduhelm, the primary drug cleared by authorities well being officers for treating Alzheimer’s in practically 20 years.

The pharmaceutical large is returning the rights to the drug to Neurimmune, the personal agency that invented it, and incurring a $60 million one-time cost to shut out the Aduhelm program, Biogen stated Wednesday in a assertion. 

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Biogen plans to as a substitute focus its assets on different Alzheimer’s efforts. That features Leqembi, a drug that Biogen is partnering with Japan’s Eisai on that was authorised by the Meals and Drug Administration final 12 months.

Granted accelerated approval in 2021, Aduhelm has not met business expectations, with insurers together with the federal Medicare program largely refusing to cowl the drug due to doubt over its effectiveness and its excessive value.

When Biogen initially launched Aduhelm, it set the worth at $56,000 yearly, however later slashed the worth in half to about $28,200 after an outcry. 

Roughly 6 million folks within the U.S. have Alzheimer’s, which steadily assaults areas of the mind wanted for reminiscence, reasoning, communication and each day duties.