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Leqembi vs Aricept

Lecanemab  ·  Donepezil

A disease-modifying antibody against the long-standing symptomatic treatment — what each actually does to the course of Alzheimer's disease.

At a glance

LeqembiLecanemab
AriceptDonepezil
Brand name
Leqembi
Aricept
Drug class
Anti-amyloid antibody
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Route
Intravenous, Subcutaneous
Oral
Marketed by
Eisai
Eisai
First FDA approval
6 Jan 2023
25 Nov 1996
US shortage
Not listed
Not listed

Key differences

What each one treats

LeqembiLecanemab

LEQEMBI is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment with LEQEMBI should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials. LEQEMBI is an amyloid beta-directed antibody indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment with LEQEMBI should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials. ( 1 )

AriceptDonepezil

ARICEPT is indicated for the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Efficacy has been demonstrated in patients with mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s disease. ARICEPT is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Efficacy has been demonstrated in patients with mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s Disease ( 1 )

How each one works

LeqembiAnti-amyloid antibody

12.1 Mechanism of Action Lecanemab-irmb is a humanized immunoglobulin gamma 1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against aggregated soluble and insoluble forms of amyloid beta. The accumulation of amyloid beta plaques in the brain is a defining pathophysiological feature of Alzheimer’s disease. LEQEMBI reduces amyloid beta plaques, as evaluated in Study 1 and Study 2 [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] .

AriceptAcetylcholinesterase inhibitor

12.1 Mechanism of Action Current theories on the pathogenesis of the cognitive signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease attribute some of them to a deficiency of cholinergic neurotransmission. Donepezil hydrochloride is postulated to exert its therapeutic effect by enhancing cholinergic function. This is accomplished by increasing the concentration of acetylcholine through reversible inhibition of its hydrolysis by acetylcholinesterase. There is no evidence that donepezil alters the course of the underlying dementing process.

Related comparisons

Leqembi VS Kisunla Leqembi VS Aduhelm Aricept VS Razadyne Namenda VS Aricept

Read more

Leqembi profile Aricept profile Anti-amyloid Antibodies Cholinesterase Inhibitors All comparisons
This is not medical advice, and not a recommendation of one drug over the other.

Which medicine is right for a given person depends on their diagnosis, other conditions, other medicines, kidney and liver function, pregnancy, and cost or reimbursement — none of which this page knows. Two drugs in the same class are not automatically interchangeable. Never start, stop or switch a prescription medicine on the basis of a web page; that decision belongs to you and your clinician or pharmacist.

Class and summary text is written by the Priya Life Science editorial team. Label, mechanism, route, manufacturer and approval data come from the U.S. FDA via the openFDA API; shortage status from the FDA Drug Shortage Database. Approvals, indications and brand names differ between the US, EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions — a drug approved in one may not be approved, or may carry a different name, in another.