The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a second drug for Alzheimer’s disease, lecanemab (Leqembi), despite reports of rare brain bleeds linked to use of the drug in some patients.

Leqembi, made by Eisai and marketed by Biogen, will be only the second drug for Alzheimer’s disease to receive FDA approval in the past 18 months.

The agency’s speedy approval of the drug aducanumab (Aduhelm) in June 2021 generated controversy in the medical community over its lack of effectiveness, brain bleed concerns and hefty price tag.

And not every patient would stand to benefit from Leqembi, stressed Dr Babak Tousi, from the Cleveland Clinic; he led the portion of the clinical trial that was conducted at the Cleveland Clinic.