“China is one of the fastest-aging countries in the world and is one of the most important countries in the area of Alzheimer’s disease for Eisai,” a company spokesperson said. “The potential growth for Leqembi in China is huge.”Eli Lilly, which is developing a similar treatment called donanemab, told Reuters it has filed for approval in China. The Indianapolis-based company is now testing its drug in a 1,500-person trial with volunteers in China, Taiwan, South Korea and the EU, a spokesperson said. Leqembi, which works by removing a toxic protein called beta amyloid from the brain, is the first Alzheimer's treatment proven to alter the course of the fatal, brain-wasting disease. Once on treatment, suitable patients undergo a series of MRI scans to monitor for potentially fatal swelling and bleeding in the brain.

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Persons: Julie Steenhuysen, Andrew Silver CHICAGO, ” Eli Lilly, Biogen, Liu Zhou, Eisai, ”, Hidemaru Yamaguchi, Soeren Mattke, Mattke, Andrew Silver, Caroline Humer, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, EU, Leqembi, Guangdong Medical University, ” Citi, Psychiatry, Siemens Healthineers, University of Southern, University of Southern California Brain Health Locations: SHANGHAI, China, ”, Leqembi, The Indianapolis, Taiwan, South Korea, Eisai, United States, Japan, Europe, U.S, University of Southern California, Chicago, Shanghai