Kisunla vs Liqembi

sdredfern

I was recently diagnosed with AD after having MCI for the past 5 years. My neurologist is recommending that I start a monoclonal antibody treatment regimen and has suggested Liqembi. As I do my own research, it looks like Kisunla is considerably more effective. It more aggressively removes existing plaque while preventing new buildup and does not require continuous treatments once the plaque is cleared. I also see a lot of people on these threads receiving Liqembi. It could just be that Liqembi was available first and Kisunla was only available beginning last year. From what you all have learned and experienced on your journeys, is there something I'm missing that indicates I should be considering Liqembi instead of Kisunla?

Was it a battle for you all to get your insurance to cover treatments? My first inquiry came back that my provider does not cover either treatment. After digging on my own I found a statement from them that if my doctor provides a page worth of different test results and validations, they will agree to cover it. I'm wondering if they will try to deny coverage at every juncture.

Thanks for your insight!

carol mangles

i am 71 yo female recently dx with AD after pet scan revealed amyloid plaque on brain. I had experienced issues with memory probably 4 years prior with increasing issues. I will be starting kisula this month. I have Medicare advantage UHC. My copay will be around $4000 per year as well as I can tell. One thing I don’t understand is how or whether kisumla continues to work after the prescribed period of dosing which I believe is 14 months. Any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated

jaycey

There is some limited evidence that the effects of Kisunla may continue after the 36 month period. However there's not enough evidence (not enough people have taken it for 3 years) to be sure.

JJ401

DH here is on Kisunla. He had treatment #8 last week. At his last neurologist appointment (at the beginning of the month) his doctor said at 12 months he would have a PET. Then depending on the results, infusions would stop or continue for six more months.

DH has Medicare and a supplement (not an Advantage plan). So far the infusions have been 100% covered.

sdredfern

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/252956#Comment_252956

Thanks for the reply. Did you have a choice between Kisunla and Leqembi? If so, what caused you to choose Kisunla?

sdredfern

Thank you. That's what I've read that Kisunla treatments last 12-18 months depending on when a PET scan show that the plaque has been cleared. Maintenance treatments are yet undefined.

pvandebrake

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sdredfern

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/252956#Comment_252956

Now that I'm into my Leqembi (lecanemab) treatment I thought I'd follow up with you on your reply. As I began my program, my infusion center helped me apply for additional assistance from the drug's manufacturer Eisai. Eisai has patient care advocates who worked to get approval from the manufacturer to cover all of my copay not covered by insurance. I haven't been billed a penny for my first 3 infusions! I noticed you have a significant copay, you may want to ask your infusion center if the manufacturer of Kisunla has a similar program that can help you with covering that.

jaycey

I want to addd a comment about co-pay: I also just discovered this month - after a shocking bill from my infusion location - that Lilly's should have offered me the "Lilly's card", that pays almost all my co-pay. The enrollment requirements are straightforward: Medicare A is OK, but you're not eligible if you have Medicare B. You need to live in the US, and have "commercial insurance" - I think that means insurance through your workplace. I signed up right away, and they are going to back-pay all my co-pays for the last 120 days and going forward!

jaycey

Another comment about continued positive impact after stopping the drug: my neurologist told me this week that he had seen a couple of clinical studies showing positive impact 1 year after stopping Kisunla, for patients who had taken it for 18 months. If anybody has the references to those articles, I'd like to see them!