Alzheimer's Association Launches Grassroots Level Lobbying For Medicare Coverage Of Alzheimer's Treatments

The Alzheimer's Association has launched a grassroots lobbying campaign while deploying 1,000 people, either patients or caring for someone with the disease, to meet with all 535 members of Congress across the U.S. and urge them to press Medicare program for the drugs starting with Biogen Inc BIIB Leqembi (lecanemab).
According to interviews with four Association national and local officials, the campaign is led by state-based chapters.
Broad coverage of the drugs would mean substantially more revenue for the drug makers, Reuters writes. Some analysts project that 2023 sales of lecanemab could reach $26 million to $70 million.
Other analysts have forecast sales as high as $5 billion by 2030 if the drug gets broad coverage.
Related: Analyst Says Biogen-Eisai's Alzheimer's Treatment Leqembi Coverage Enables Access To Over $2.5B Market Opportunity.
Wider Medicare coverage will become available once the drugs receive full commercial approval from the FDA, a process that requires more data that could take several months.
The FDA approved Leqembi via the Accelerated Approval pathway. Biogen and its partner Eisai Limited ESALY have filed a supplemental application for complete approval, with a PDUFA date of 6 July.
Eli Lilly And Co's LLY drug donanemab is expected to be considered for full approval later this year.
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