Subcutaneous Lecanemab for Alzheimer Disease Maintenance Dosing Now Available
Leqembi IQLIK (lecanemab-irmb; Eisai, Tokyo, Japan; Biogen, Cambridge, MA), a formulation of lecanemab approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for subcutaneous injection for maintenance dosing for people with early Alzheimer disease (AD) including those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia, has now been launched and is available within the United States. In a statement from BioArtic (Stockholm, Sweden), a partner of Eisai, the company notes that the subcutaneous formulation provides a once-weekly, 360 mg at-home injection option for people who have already completed 18 months of intravenous (IV) lecanemab therapy.
The subcutaneous form was developed to simplify long-term care for people with MCI or mild dementia due to AD, potentially reducing the need for infusion center visits. After completing the initial intravenous starting dose, individuals receiving treatment have the option to either continue IV infusions every 4 weeks or transition to Leqembi IQLIK autoinjector therapy. The autoinjector administers a dose of Leqembi IQLIK in approximately 15 seconds, and treatment can be completed in the at-home setting.
Data from the phase 3 CLARITY AD (NCT03887455) study and its open-label extension (OLE) support the safety and efficacy of treatment with the subcutaneous formulation of lecanemab vs IV treatment: https://www.eisai.com/news/2025/news202553.html. For more information, please reference Practical Neurology’s past coverage on this topic.
The availability of Leqembi IQLIK coincides with the launch of the Leqembi Companion program, designed to assist patients with injection training, understanding insurance coverage and financial support options, and tracking their injection schedule.
Leqembi IQLIK’s prescribing information includes a Boxed Warning for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA).
Source: BioArctic. Leqembi® Iqlik™ (lecanemab-irmb) maintenance treatment launched in the U.S. PR Newswire. Published October 6, 2025. Accessed October 8, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leqembi-iqlik-lecanemab-irmb-maintenance-treatment-launched-in-the-us-302576300.html