The European Union's drugs regulator on Thursday recommended approval of Eisai and Biogen's Leqembi for some patients with early Alzheimer's disease, reversing its initial decision from four months ago.

Biogen’s stock rose 1% Thursday, after Europe’s pharmaceutical regulator issued a positive opinion on the Alzheimer’s disease drug that the company developed with Japanese partner Eisai — reversing an earlier decision not to approve the drug.

Reversing an earlier decision, European regulators recommended that an Alzheimer’s therapy from Eisai and Biogen should be approved.

Upon reexamination, the European Medicines Agency has made a U-turn on Eisai and Biogen’s Alzheimer’s disease drug Leqembi. | Upon reexamination, the EMA has made a U-turn on Eisai and Biogen’s Alzheimer’s disease drug Leqembi.

A European regulatory committee now recommends approval of the Alzheimer’s treatment lecanemab a few months after rejecting the drug.

EU drugs regulator recommends approval of Leqembi for early Alzheimer's, pending European Commission acceptance, for specific patient group.

The European Union's drugs regulator on Thursday said it recommends approval of Eisai and Biogen's Leqembi in patients with early Alzheimer's disease, months after the agency first rejected the treatment.

The European Union's drugs regulator reversed its decision to block the Alzheimer's drug lecanemab, a treatment aimed at slowing cognitive decline in patients. In July, the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) denied recommending approval of the drug made by Eisai and Biogen because it considered the risks - especially bleeding and swelling in the brain - to be greater than the potential benefits in a broad population.