TOKYO - Japanese drugmaker Eisai is betting on Asia to boost sales of a newly approved therapeutic Alzheimer's disease drug co-developed with U.S.-based Biogen, as the aging region faces a rapid increase in dementia patients.
Eisai CEO Haruo Naito told Nikkei in an interview on Tuesday that the treatment would "become a substantial blockbuster," a drug with annual sales of over $1 billion, and expressed hope that it would generate significant revenue for the pharmaceutical company.
On June 7, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug, called Aducanumab. It is effective in removing amyloid beta, which accumulates in the brain and is considered a disease-causing substance. Once the drug hits the market it will be the first new approved Alzheimer's treatment in the world.
"Asia, including Japan and China, has an enormous number of [dementia] patients," he said. Although he did not give a forecast of the drug's potential sales, Naito said he expected it to contribute significantly to Eisai's earnings. Eisai and Biogen aim to jointly sell the treatment in Japan, China and other Asian countries. The Japanese company filed for approval of Aducanumab in Japan in December 2020.
In addition to Japan, Eisai is also working in China with local companies to develop services for dementia patients. The Japanese company plans to establish a framework to provide a comprehensive range of services, from prevention to diagnosis and treatment, mainly in Asia, a market where the company has a strong presence.
Some experts have expressed doubts about the U.S. approval process for Aducanumab. But Naito remains optimistic. "In Japan and Europe [where the drug is still being screened by regulators], it is possible to exchange information with authorities and gain their understanding," Naito said. "We will be fully prepared in Japan," when approval is granted, he said.
Eisai is also developing another drug for Alzheimer's disease, called Lecanemab. It removes amyloid plaques in a similar manner to Aducanumab. "The approval of Aducanumab will have a very positive impact," Naito said. The company may file for regulatory approval for Lecanemab in the fiscal year ending in March 2023.
One estimate puts economic losses in Japan from Alzheimer's disease at more than 12 trillion yen ($109.7 billion) per year, including medical and nursing carecosts and family care. Alzheimer disease is "really deep and serious, and hurts [patients'] families," Naito said, adding that a treatment would help solve a serious social problem.