How to access Leqembi from the UAE — the named-patient import pathway, 2026

By Reserve Meds · Clinical & regulatory team · Last reviewed 2026-04-23

A patient in the United Arab Emirates with early Alzheimer's disease — mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's or mild Alzheimer's dementia — may receive a prescription for Leqembi (lecanemab) from their treating neurologist, geriatrician, or cognitive specialist. Leqembi is FDA-approved under full traditional approval for the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease in patients with confirmed amyloid pathology, developed by Eisai and Biogen. It is one of the first generation of anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies to demonstrate meaningful slowing of cognitive decline in clinical trials. In the UAE, Leqembi availability through hospital pharmacies is emerging but still uneven; for families whose neurologists want to begin with a predictable calendar and documented DSCSA chain-of-custody, the MoHAP named-patient import route is a clean path.

This guide explains the pathway, eligibility screening (including amyloid-PET and ApoE4 genotyping), documentation your physician prepares, indicative timing and cost bands, and where Reserve Meds fits in.

The clinical situation

Leqembi is a humanised IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds soluble amyloid beta protofibrils — a particularly neurotoxic intermediate species of amyloid beta — and promotes clearance of amyloid plaque. Dosing is 10 mg/kg intravenous every two weeks. Eligibility is narrow and tightly specified: patients must have mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer's dementia, confirmed amyloid pathology via amyloid-PET scan or CSF biomarkers, and a structured baseline neurologic workup. ApoE4 genotyping is strongly recommended before starting because ApoE4 homozygotes are at substantially higher risk of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA-E oedema and ARIA-H microhaemorrhage). Baseline MRI and periodic surveillance MRIs (before doses 5, 7, and 14, and as clinically indicated) are required per labeling. Anticoagulation is a relative caution. Your neurologist will establish eligibility with this full workup before treatment begins.

Is Leqembi legally importable into the UAE?

Yes — through the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) named-patient / personal-use import framework. The pathway permits a UAE-licensed physician to request import of a medicine when (a) the medicine is approved by a recognised reference authority such as the US FDA or EMA, (b) no clinically equivalent locally available option meets the patient's needs, (c) the physician accepts clinical responsibility, and (d) chain of custody is documented. For Leqembi specifically, the pathway additionally requires coordination with a hospital infusion centre that can support the every-two-week IV schedule, MRI surveillance, and ARIA monitoring protocol.

How the pathway works, step by step

1. Consultation with your treating neurologist or cognitive specialist. Cognitive staging (MMSE, MoCA, CDR), clinical interview, and caregiver input.
2. Amyloid confirmation and eligibility workup. Amyloid-PET scan or CSF biomarker confirmation, ApoE4 genotyping for ARIA-risk stratification, baseline MRI, anticoagulation review, and informed consent on ARIA risk.
3. MoHAP named-patient application. Your physician or the hospital pharmacy files the application with clinical rationale, eligibility documentation, patient reference, product details, and chain-of-custody plan.
4. US-side sourcing. Reserve Meds coordinates with our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner to secure Leqembi from authorised distribution under DSCSA.
5. Cold-chain shipment. Leqembi ships under validated 2-8 °C conditions with temperature logging and chain-of-custody documentation.
6. Arrival and administration. IV infusion every two weeks at a UAE hospital infusion centre, with MRI surveillance before doses 5, 7, and 14, and as clinically indicated; ARIA monitoring and dose management per labeling.

What documentation your physician needs

• Clinical rationale letter confirming early Alzheimer's diagnosis (MCI-AD or mild AD dementia)
• Verification of UAE medical licence (DHA / DOH / MoHAP as applicable)
• Amyloid-PET or CSF biomarker report confirming amyloid pathology
• ApoE4 genotyping result (for ARIA-risk stratification)
• Baseline MRI report
• Anticoagulation status and any relevant cardiovascular history
• Planned infusion calendar (every two weeks) and MRI surveillance cadence
• Patient identifier (anonymised reference preferred)

Reserve Meds provides a physician documentation kit that bundles the templates MoHAP reviewers expect to see for anti-amyloid mAb named-patient imports, including the ARIA monitoring and informed-consent annex.

Typical costs and indicative timing

Leqembi's US cash-pay drug-only reference range in 2026 sits at roughly USD 26,000-30,000 per year of therapy at the 10 mg/kg every-two-week cadence for a mid-range body weight, with proportional variation by patient weight. Infusion-centre fees, amyloid-PET or CSF testing, ApoE4 genotyping, and MRI surveillance are arranged locally and billed by your hospital. International cold-chain logistics, MoHAP documentation handling, and concierge coordination are quoted separately. Reserve Meds issues a full transparent delivered quote at intake so your family sees one landed number before committing. These ranges are indicative, not guaranteed.

Indicative timing — not guaranteed — for first dose after cohort intake opens is approximately 7-14 days from the moment a complete MoHAP application and eligibility workup are in hand. Eligibility workup (amyloid-PET, ApoE4, baseline MRI) typically runs in parallel with the import application.

Reserve Meds is in pre-launch. Fulfillment availability is limited to our first cohort, and all timelines published on this site are indicative. If your clinical situation is time-sensitive, flag that when you join the waitlist — we triage accordingly.

Where Reserve Meds fits in

Reserve Meds is a US-based concierge coordinator for cross-border specialty medicine. For Leqembi specifically, we provide:

• Sourcing. Through our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner, operating under DSCSA chain-of-custody from authorised channels.
• Documentation. Regulatory package for your physician and MoHAP review, including eligibility and ARIA monitoring annex.
• Logistics. Validated 2-8 °C cold-chain shipment with temperature logging, timed to your infusion calendar.
• Concierge case lead. A named point of contact coordinating every-two-week deliveries and MRI surveillance timing with your physician's office.

What we do not do: we are not the prescriber, we do not practise medicine, and we are not the dispensing pharmacy. We do not perform amyloid-PET, ApoE4 genotyping, or MRI — these are arranged at your UAE clinical centre. All clinical decisions remain with your treating neurologist and the administering infusion facility. We operate on a waitlist basis during pre-launch.

Frequently asked

Is this legal in the UAE? Yes, when executed through the MoHAP named-patient / personal-use framework with appropriate documentation and a licensed administering facility. See our trust and compliance page for methodology.

Why is amyloid-PET eligibility screening required? Leqembi is approved only for patients with confirmed amyloid pathology. Patients with clinical dementia symptoms but no amyloid pathology on imaging or CSF will not benefit and should not be treated.

Why is ApoE4 genotyping recommended? ApoE4 homozygotes have substantially elevated risk of ARIA-E (oedema) and ARIA-H (microhaemorrhage). Knowing the genotype is necessary for informed consent, risk-benefit discussion, and monitoring intensity. Some centres take a more conservative dosing or surveillance approach in homozygotes.

What is the MRI surveillance schedule? Per labeling, baseline MRI and surveillance MRIs before doses 5, 7, and 14 are recommended, plus any clinically indicated scans (new neurologic symptoms, severe headache, seizure). Your neurologist may add scans based on your individual risk.

Is Leqembi a cure? No. It slows the rate of cognitive decline in early Alzheimer's but does not reverse established disease. Benefit is modest and accumulates over months; careful patient-and-family counselling on realistic expectations is part of the workup.

Next step — join the first-cohort waitlist

Reserve Meds is opening to a limited first cohort in 2026. Add your case to the waitlist and our concierge case lead will reach out when we enter intake for Leqembi coordination in the UAE.

Add me to the Leqembi waitlist

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Examples and timings above are composite illustrations drawn from published sources and typical named-patient patterns. Your individual case is assessed by your physician and our clinical-regulatory team; Reserve Meds does not guarantee outcomes or timelines.

Reserve Meds is a US-based concierge coordinator for cross-border specialty medicine. We are in pre-launch; service availability is limited to our first cohort and published timelines are indicative, not guarantees. Cash-pay. Export-only (US → overseas). Composite case examples. Not medical advice.

Clinical & regulatory review: Reserve Meds clinical team and AI regulatory-counsel review pipeline. Last medically reviewed: 2026-04-23.