Can I get it now?

People interested in the drug might not have to wait long.

The Food and Drug Administration is considering lecanemab for accelerated approval, and will make

How much will it cost?

Esai has said lecanemab could cost between $9,249 and $35,605 a year, a broad estimate that has yet to be narrowed down.

It’s unclear if the drug will be covered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should it receive accelerated approval.

Currently, based on an agency decision made in April, Medicare and Medicaid has said it generally will not pay for Alzheimer’s treatments aimed at attacking amyloid plaque until they receive full approval by the Food and Drug Administration, except in clinical trial settings.

A spokesperson for Medicare and Medicaid said it is reviewing the publication in the New England Journal of Medicine and “has met with manufacturers to learn about their efforts” since the

April criteria decision.

Patients on similar medications

There’s currently only one drug on the market that attempts to slow progression of Alzheimer’s by reducing the level of plaque in the brain.

Known as Aduhelm or aducanamab, the controversial treatment received

federal approval last year, despite limited results that the drug helped patients.

It’s currently unclear how doctors will advise the limited number of patients who are already receiving Aduhelm treatments and want to switch over to lecanemab, which appears to have more conclusive data about its efficacy.

People who are currently taking Aduhelm and are interested in lecanemab should speak to their physicians about next steps.