Industry News
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ASX Announcement
7 July 2023
Industry News
On Thursday 06 July 2023, USA time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed its granting to Eisai Co.
Ltd of full approval for Alzheimer’s treatment, Leqembi (Lecanemab). This follows an accelerated approval of
Leqembi by the FDA in January this year.
In its news release about the approval, the FDA noted the significance of its decision:
“Leqembi is the first amyloid beta-directed antibody to be converted from an accelerated approval to a traditional
approval for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug works by reducing amyloid plaques that form in the brain,
a defining pathophysiological feature of the disease.”
The approval by the FDA was described by Teresa Buracchio, acting director of the Office of Neuroscience in the
FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research as “…the first verification that a drug targeting the underlying disease
process of Alzheimer’s disease has shown clinical benefit in this devastating disease”.
As previously announced by Cogstate to the market on 28 September 2022, the confirmatory phase 3 Clarity AD
study of Lecanemab, which supported the FDA’s decision to approve Leqembi, had met primary endpoints showing
a statistically significant reduction of a clinical decline in a global clinical study of 1,795 participants with early
Alzheimer’s disease. The study was conducted in collaboration between Eisai Co. Ltd and Biogen, Inc.
Cogstate was not party to the collaborative arrangement between Eisai and Biogen in respect of the confirmatory
clinical study, nor does it have access to or awareness of information relating to the treatment other than as
publicly released. However, Cogstate maintains its previously expressed view that the upside revenue for the
Company’s Healthcare business is expected to be dependant upon the release, reimbursement, and availability of
proven Alzheimer’s treatments.
This announcement has been approved for release by the CEO and Company Secretary.
About Cogstate
Cogstate Ltd (ASX:CGS) is the neuroscience technology company optimising brain health assessments to advance the
development of new medicines and to enable earlier clinical insights in healthcare. Cogstate technologies provide rapid, reliable
and highly sensitive computerised cognitive tests across a growing list of domains and support electronic clinical outcome
assessment (eCOA) solutions to replace costly and error-prone paper assessments with real-time data capture. The company’s
clinical trials solutions include quality assurance services for study endpoints that combine innovative operational approaches,
advanced analytics and scientific consulting. For 20 years, Cogstate has proudly supported the leading-edge research needs of
biopharmaceutical companies and academic institutions and the clinical care needs of physicians and patients around the world.
In the Healthcare market, in August 2019 Cogstate entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with the pharmaceutical
company Eisai, under which Eisai will market Cogstate technologies as digital cognitive assessment tools in Japanese markets.
In October 2020, Cogstate extended its agreement with Eisai to the Rest of the World. The product, branded as NouKNOW,
launched in Japan on 31 March 2020 (nouknow.jp). For more information, please visit www.cogstate.com.
For further information contact:
Brad O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer, boconnor@cogstate.com
Important Notices
Past performance
Past performance is given for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as (and is not) an indication of Cogstate's
views on its future financial performance or condition. Past performance of Cogstate cannot be relied upon as an indicator of (and
provides no guidance as to) the future performance of Cogstate. Nothing contained in this announcement nor any information
made available to you is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise, representation, warranty or guarantee, whether as to the past,
present or future.
Future performance and forward-looking statements
This announcement contains certain “forward-looking statements”. The words “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “intend”, “believe”,
“guidance”, “should”, “could”, “may”, “will”, “predict”, “plan” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Indications of, and guidance on, future earnings and financial position and performance are also forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements, opinions and estimates provided in this announcement are based on assumptions and
contingencies that are subject to change without notice and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors
that are beyond the control of Cogstate, its directors and management. Forward-looking statements are provided as a general
guide only and should not be relied upon as an indication or guarantee of future performance.
Actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements and any
projections and assumptions on which these statements are based. These statements may assume the success of Cogstate's
business strategies, including the that the results of any of those strategies will be realised in the period for which the forwardlooking statement may have been prepared or otherwise. For example, Cogstate's performance in any one financial period is
sensitive to whether or not contracts are signed in that period, or a subsequent period, and the rate of enrolment in trials of its
customers which are influenced by factors that are outside of Cogstate's control.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and except as required by law or regulation,
none of Cogstate, its representatives or advisers assumes any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. No
representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, likelihood of achievement or reasonableness of any
forecasts, prospects, returns or statements in relation to future matters contained in this announcement. The forward-looking
statements are based on information available to Cogstate as at the date of this announcement. Except as required by law or
regulation (including the ASX Listing Rules), none of Cogstate, its representatives or advisers undertakes any obligation to provide
any additional or updated information, whether as a result of a change in expectations or assumptions, new information, future
events or results or otherwise. Indications of, and guidance or outlook on, future earnings or financial position or performance are
also forward-looking statements.
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