Following news of a second death linked to Biogen Inc.’s “breakthrough experimental drug” for Alzheimer’s disease, shares of the company fell on Monday. Biogen developed the drug Lecanemab in collaboration with Eisai Co.
A 65-year-old woman is said to have died of a brain hemorrhage after suffering a stroke. According to the scientific journal ‘Science’, the woman in question participated in a trial with the drug. The bleeding is said to have started after the patient was prescribed an anticoagulant. According to “Science,” the swelling and brain hemorrhaging have also previously been attributed to drugs that work like the ones Biogen-Eisai is experimenting with.
Shares of Biogen fell 2.3%, shares of Eisai fell 1.2%. Lecanemab is the first drug capable of slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s, a medical milestone, according to a clinical study. Millions of patients around the world suffer from the disease.
Biogen and Eisai have so far released limited data on the study. Later this week, the companies will provide more information at a conference. An Esai spokesperson said the available information indicates that lecanemab is not associated with an increased risk of death.
“Determining the cause of death of sick, elderly, taking many other medicines therefore remains a difficult task,” the company said.
The share of BioArtic AB, the Swedish biotech company from which the drug originated, plunged 25%.
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