Also known as: Eisai
Eisai is a Japanese pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tokyo. It was established in 1941, employs around 10,000 people, and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Merck & Co. is bolstering its oncology pipeline with acquisitions like Terns Pharmaceuticals and Cidara Therapeutics, while Keytruda remains the key growth driver. It expects Keytruda peak sales of $35 billion by 2028 and aims to launch 20 new drugs by 2030.
FDA approved a subcutaneous starting dose of Leqembi for early Alzheimer's disease. AAIC 2026 real-world data showed most patients stable or improved; a mouse study found KCL-286 repaired DNA damage and reduced inflammation.
Tortugas Neuroscience and Korsana Biosciences emerged with significant funding to advance clinical-stage pipelines targeting neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Tortugas raised $106 million, while Korsana secured $175 million to develop therapies for conditions including Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and epilepsy.
Biogen's Phase 2 CELIA trial showed diranersen slowed Alzheimer's decline and cut tau biomarkers, but missed the dose-response goal. Leqembi sales data is expected next quarter.
Multiple biopharma companies appointed new chief financial officers in early 2026, including clinical-stage and publicly traded firms. The appointments bring executives with backgrounds in investment banking, life sciences finance, and commercial operations.
A review of 17 studies involving 20,342 patients found anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s drugs had “trivial” effects after 18 months and increased the risk of brain swelling and bleeding. A separate PET study suggested ARIA-E may mark brain regions with greater amyloid plaque reduction.
NICE has upheld appeals to review its guidance on Alzheimer's drugs lecanemab and donanemab, sending the decision back to committee. The manufacturers argued NICE failed to account for the treatments' wider impact on unpaid carers. This comes amid broader challenges in neurodegenerative disease research following recent high-profile clinical trial failures.
Merck announced multiple data presentations at the 2026 ASCO GU Cancers Symposium, including results from trials evaluating pembrolizumab combinations in muscle-invasive bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma.
GSK agreed to license linerixibat to Alfasigma in a deal worth up to $690 million, while Eisai received orphan drug designation in Japan for E2086, a novel selective orexin 2 receptor agonist for narcolepsy.
BioArctic reported net revenues of SEK 184.0 M for Q4 2025, driven by Leqembi royalties and Novartis partnership income. Leqembi received multiple regulatory approvals and submissions across global markets during the quarter.
