Lecanemab Resources for Health Care Professionals

Lecanemab (Leqembi™) is an FDA-approved intravenous monoclonal antibody therapy indicated for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease (AD), specifically mild cognitive impairment due to AD or mild AD dementia with confirmed brain amyloid pathology. Lecanemab targets amyloid-β plaques in the brain and has demonstrated the ability to slow cognitive decline in clinical trials.

This page provides evidence-based Appropriate Use Recommendations (AUR) and practical clinical guidance from the Alzheimer’s Association’s lecanemab summary, supporting health care providers in the safe implementation of lecanemab therapy.

Background

The clinical trial CLARITY AD established the safety and efficacy of lecanemab in early AD, leading to FDA approval. The Alzheimer’s Association, in collaboration with expert panels, developed AURs and a comprehensive toolkit to guide clinicians in patient selection, monitoring and management aligned with the FDA prescribing information.

Key challenges include identifying eligible patients with confirmed amyloid pathology, managing infusion reactions, and monitoring for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), a common adverse effect detected by MRI.

These recommendations emphasize multidisciplinary collaboration, genetic testing for APOE status to assess ARIA risk and system-level readiness to support therapy administration and safety monitoring.

Note: In August 2025, the FDA approved a subcutaneous formulation of lecanemab. Resources on this page currently reflect the intravenous (IV) formulation. Updated materials will be added as they become available.

Lecanemab Appropriate Use Recommendations for Health Care Providers

This summary document outlines critical guidance for clinicians treating patients with lecanemab. It covers:

• Identifying appropriate candidates for treatment.

• Conducting required and recommended pre-treatment evaluations.

• Administering lecanemab and monitoring treatment.

• Managing safety, including ARIA risk and MRI surveillance.
  NOTE: The MRI monitoring schedule in the published AUR recommends scans prior to infusions 5, 7 and 14. The FDA has since updated this guidance to include an additional safety MRI prior to infusion 3, reflecting evolving best practices for monitoring ARIA.

Download Lecanemab AUR Summary for Health Care Providers

When and How to Use the Appropriate Use Recommendations

• Confirm diagnosis of early AD and positive amyloid biomarker status before initiating therapy.

• Obtain APOE genotyping with appropriate counseling.

• Schedule and complete baseline MRI and subsequent monitoring scans per protocol.

• Educate patients and caregivers on the treatment process, potential side effects and signs of ARIA.

• Monitor closely for infusion reactions and ARIA symptoms throughout therapy.

• Collaborate across specialties and departments to ensure coordinated care and timely management of adverse events.

View the Lecanemab Appropriate Use Recommendations

ALZ-NET and Lecanemab Support

Clinicians prescribing lecanemab are encouraged to participate in ALZ-NET, the only voluntary health care provider-enrolled network in the United States collecting clinical, imaging and safety data for patients being treated with FDA-approved Alzheimer’s disease therapies. By becoming an ALZ-NET site, your practice contributes to the growing body of RWE that informs treatment decisions, supports patient care and advances Alzheimer’s research.