Eisai Slashes Leqembi Sales Forecast by 50 for 2027

Eisai has significantly revised its sales expectations for lecanemab, the Alzheimer's treatment developed in collaboration with Biogen, cutting its forecast for the fiscal year 2027 by as much as 50%. Previously, Eisai anticipated annual sales of approximately 500 billion yen (around $3.3 billion) by 2027. The new estimate now projects annual sales to be between 250 billion and 280 billion yen (approximately $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion).

This adjustment is seen as a crucial milestone, with Eisai aiming for lecanemab to reach sales of 1.6 trillion yen (about $10.7 billion) by fiscal year 2032. The company attributed the downward revision to delays in market promotion in the United States and lessons learned from the drug's rollout in various regions.

Despite receiving full approval from the FDA in mid-2023, lecanemab's introduction has been hindered by bottlenecks in the U.S. healthcare system and complex diagnostic requirements, limiting patient access to the drug. Lecanemab has also gained approval in Japan, and there are indications that EU regulators, initially hesitant, may now be leaning toward granting market approval.

In January 2025, the FDA approved a new monthly maintenance dose of 10 mg/kg for lecanemab, administered via intravenous injection, applicable to patients who have completed the initial 18-month regimen of biweekly doses. A decision on a subcutaneous auto-injection formulation is expected in August.

However, challenges such as lengthy patient diagnostic processes, limited infusion capacity, and the need for specialized screening tests continue to impede lecanemab's market penetration.

To overcome these obstacles, Eisai is implementing a multi-faceted strategy. It remains to be seen whether these efforts will successfully navigate existing barriers and achieve the desired sales growth targets.