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Pharmaceutical companies Lilly and Eisai are in talks with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) around potential NHS use of their Alzheimer’s disease treatments, after NICE committees met for the fourth time to discuss the drugs, the companies have confirmed.
Donanemab (Kisunla; Eli Lilly) and lecanemab (Leqembi; Eisai) were rejected for use on the NHS in England and Wales by NICE for a third time in June 2025.
At that time, NICE said that its independent appraisal committee met to review new information that had been submitted but concluded that the benefits from the two treatments remain too small in people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease to justify the additional cost to the NHS.
Following appeals from Lilly and Eisai, NICE’s technology appraisal committee reconsidered two points in the original assessments: the way that utility values for carers had been assessed and the cost of administering the infusion-based treatments.
A committee meeting to discuss these points was held on 8 July 2026.
While the details of this meeting have not yet been published, a spokesperson for Lilly told The Pharmaceutical Journal on 29 July 2026: “Lilly is in dialogue with NICE following the committee meeting and considering all options.
“Our ambition is to ensure that eligible people living with Alzheimer’s disease can have access to licensed therapies in the NHS.”
NHS England is also in discussions with Eisai to explore whether a commercial agreement for NHS use of lecanemab can be reached.
A spokesperson for Eisai told The Pharmaceutical Journal on 29 July 2026: “At present, Eisai can confirm that we have entered into commercial discussions with NICE and NHS England, although we cannot comment on further details regarding timings, expected discussion areas or outcomes.”
“Eisai remains committed to supporting people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families, and will continue to give them our first thought throughout the ongoing discussions,” the spokesperson added.
In addition, a spokesperson for NICE confirmed to The Pharmaceutical Journal on 29 July 2026: “Eisai has accepted the independent appraisal committee’s assumptions as the basis of commercial discussions with NHS England.
“NHS England and the company will now explore all reasonable opportunities to secure a positive outcome for patients and the NHS. Lilly has yet to signal its acceptance of the committee’s assumptions. A deadline for a decision has yet to be set.”
A spokesperson for NHS England noted in a comment to The Pharmaceutical Journal on 29 July 2026: “Following a request by NICE, we are working collaboratively with the manufacturer of lecanemab, Eisai, to explore whether a commercial agreement could enable NICE to recommend this treatment at a fair price for taxpayers, and the NHS to offer the drug to eligible people affected by early Alzheimer’s disease.”
