Medicare’s Strict Alzheimer’s Policy Raises Ante for Drugmakers

The U.S. Medicare program’s decision to tightly limit coverage for the first drug meant to slow the course of Alzheimer’s disease has raised the stakes for companies trying to make the next one.

First up are Eisai Co. and Roche Holding AG, which will release data from final-stage trials of their respective lecanemab and gantenerumab treatments later this year. Next will be Eli Lilly & Co., whose donanemab results are expected in the middle of next year. Each of the companies will be trying to reach a bar that has never been met: showing clear evidence that they ...