Submission of data under prior assessment consultation procedure in Japan for lecanemab for Alzheimer's disease- Eisai

The PMDA’s process, known as “prior assessment consultation”, is conducted at the development stage before the new drug application submission, which is based on available quality, non-clinical and clinical data. By identifying and resolving any potential issues prior to submission, the aim is to shorten application review time.

Based on discussions with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and PMDA, Eisai applied to PMDA for permission to utilize the “prior assessment consultation” process for lecanemab with the aim of shortening the review period. The agency approved Eisai’s request and Eisai has submitted the non-clinical lecanemab data to PMDA. The additional data of the application package will be submitted hereafter. Eisai plans to obtain the primary endpoint data from Clarity AD study in the fall of 2022, and based on the results of the study, aims to file for the manufacturing and marketing approval in Japan during Eisai’s fiscal year 2022.

In September 2021, Eisai initiated a rolling submission to the FDA of a Biologics License Application (BLA) for lecanemab, an investigational agent under the Accelerated Approval pathway for the treatment of early AD with confirmed amyloid pathology, and expects to complete this rolling submission in the beginning of Eisai’s fiscal year 2022. Based on the results of Clarity AD study as the confirmatory study, Eisai plans to submit for full approval of lecanemab to the FDA during fiscal year 2022. Eisai and Biogen are committed to providing innovative treatments to persons living with early AD, their families and healthcare professionals who are waiting for new treatment options, as early as possible.