Alzheimer's drug Leqembi promises to give patients more time, but they face a long road to treatment

Leqembi, an Alzheimer's drug from Biogen and Eisai , could give patients at the earliest stages of the disease more time to live normally and independent of others.

But patients face a long road to treatment due to the new and complicated system associated with taking the drug.

There are bottlenecks related to reimbursement uncertainties, diagnostic test requirements, the need for regular brain scans and difficulties finding neurologists.

Patients and neurologists must jump through several hoops to determine eligibility for Leqembi .

The drug works in part by clearing toxic plaques in the brain called amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer's.

A study of Medicare enrollees found only 24% of patients with a neurologic condition were seen by a neurologist.

Some commercial health plans simply don't cover the drug, experts say.

Eisai and Biogen are working on more convenient forms of Leqembi that could reduce the burden on patients.

The companies are hoping to win regulatory approval for a so-called "maintenance dose" of the drug.

Patients say infusions feel like "therapy sessions" because they get to talk to other patients and caregivers.