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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Alzheimer's & Dementia

Cost‐effectiveness of lecanemab for early Alzheimer's disease in China

  • Xingguang Zhao1,2
  • Mingsong Xu3
  • Hualin Chen1
  • Zhixiang Lei1
  • Qun Yu1
  • Jun Liu1
  • Wang Liao1
  1. 1Department of Neurology Institute of Neuroscience The Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou China
  2. 2School of Public Health Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou China
  3. 3The Second Affiliated Hospital Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou China
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although lecanemab has demonstrated clinical efficacy in early Alzheimer's disease (AD), its cost‐effectiveness in China remains uncertain. This study evaluated the long‐term cost‐effectiveness of lecanemab in Chinese patients from a societal perspective and estimated its value‐based price (VBP).

METHODS: A Markov state transition model based on Chinese real‐world data was developed to compare the long‐term health progression and economic outcomes of lecanemab combined with standard of care (SoC) versus SoC alone.

RESULTS: Compared to SoC alone, the lecanemab combination therapy gained an additional 1.2432 Quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) at an incremental cost of 463,228 Chinese yuan (CNY), resulting in an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 372,609 CNY/QALY (≈ 52,783 USD/QALY). To achieve cost‐effectiveness within the willingness‐to‐pay threshold, the price of a single vial of lecanemab must be reduced by at least 18.0%.

DISCUSSION: Lecanemab can provide health benefits to Chinese patients with early AD, but it is not cost‐effective under the current pricing system.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{zhao2026costeffectiveness,
  title = {{Cost‐effectiveness of lecanemab for early Alzheimer's disease in China}},
  author = {Xingguang Zhao and Mingsong Xu and Hualin Chen and Zhixiang Lei and Qun Yu and Jun Liu and Wang Liao},
  journal = {Alzheimer's \& Dementia},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1002/alz.71941},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71941},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Cost‐effectiveness of lecanemab for early Alzheimer's disease in China
AU  - Xingguang Zhao
AU  - Mingsong Xu
AU  - Hualin Chen
AU  - Zhixiang Lei
AU  - Qun Yu
AU  - Jun Liu
AU  - Wang Liao
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/27
JO  - Alzheimer's & Dementia
DO  - 10.1002/alz.71941
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71941
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although lecanemab has demonstrated clinical efficacy in early Alzheimer's disease (AD), its cost‐effectiveness in China remains uncertain. This study evaluated the long‐term cost‐effectiveness of lecanemab in Chinese patients from a societal perspective and estimated its value‐based price (VBP).  METHODS: A Markov state transition model based on Chinese real‐world data was developed to compare the long‐term health progression and economic outcomes of lecanemab combined with standard of care (SoC) versus SoC alone.  RESULTS: Compared to SoC alone, the lecanemab combination therapy gained an additional 1.2432 Quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) at an incremental cost of 463,228 Chinese yuan (CNY), resulting in an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 372,609 CNY/QALY (≈ 52,783 USD/QALY). To achieve cost‐effectiveness within the willingness‐to‐pay threshold, the price of a single vial of lecanemab must be reduced by at least 18.0%.  DISCUSSION: Lecanemab can provide health benefits to Chinese patients with early AD, but it is not cost‐effective under the current pricing system.
SN  - 1552-5260
SN  - 1552-5279
ER  -