New Taipei: Two newly approved Alzheimer’s drugs, Leqembi and Kisunla, have been administered for the first time in Taiwan, offering hope to patients in the early stages of the disease, though they are not currently covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) system. A 76-year-old woman with very mild Alzheimer’s received Leqembi at New Taipei Municipal Tucheng Hospital, marking a significant moment in Taiwan’s dementia care, according to a hospital statement.

According to Focus Taiwan, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH) in New Taipei administered Kisunla to an 83-year-old woman, making it the first instance of its use in Taiwan. Both drugs were approved by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) earlier in 2025. Leqembi was previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July 2023, and Kisunla received approval in July 2024.

Kisunla, developed by Eli Lilly in the U.S., and Leqembi, developed by Eisai in Japan, Biogen in the U.S., and BioArctic in Sweden, are innovative treatments that target the underlying cause of Alzheimer’s rather than just its symptoms, according to FEMH. Nearly 70 percent of patients cleared amyloid plaques within a year of receiving the drugs, a key factor believed to cause Alzheimer’s.

Tucheng Hospital reports that Leqembi, administered biweekly, can slow Alzheimer’s progression by 27 to 51 percent, while Kisunla, given monthly, may reduce progression by 29 to 36 percent. Yan Sui-hing, director of FEMH’s dementia center, noted that the treatments are given over 18 months and cost around NT$1.5 million (US$50,829) per course.

Mai Ling-chin, whose mother was the first to receive Kisunla in Taiwan, remarked on the high cost but deemed it worthwhile for preserving cognitive abilities and quality of life. An estimated 350,000 people in Taiwan have dementia, with 60-70 percent having Alzheimer’s. Approximately half may qualify for the new treatments, totaling fewer than 100,000 patients, according to Yan.

Regarding potential NHI coverage, National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) Director-General Shih Chung-liang stated a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) will assess the drugs’ real-world effectiveness and financial impact on the NHI system. Shih mentioned only one pharmaceutical application has been submitted so far, and if the review proceeds smoothly, discussions on NHI coverage could commence by year’s end.