Benzinga | Aug 17, 2021 01:14PM EDT

Controversial Aduhelm To Administered At More Than 300 Hospitals: Nikkei's

* Eisai Co Ltd (OTC:ESALY) and its U.S. partner Biogen Inc's (NASDAQ:BIIB) Alzheimer's treatment Aduhelm (aducanumab) will be used by more than 300 American medical institutions.

* The treatment is already being administered to some patients, the head of Eisai's neurology business told Nikkei.

* Aducanumab received conditional approval from the FDA in June under a cloud of doubts.

* The drug targets plaques in the brain formed by amyloid proteins believed to be a significant cause of Alzheimer's-related dementia.

* Eisai has identified around 900 U.S. medical centers seen as likely to adopt the treatment.

* How many patients actually receive the expensive drug is being closely watched to indicate whether it will reach blockbuster status.

* Some medical centers, including Mount Sinai Health System and Cleveland Clinic, have chosen not to use Aduhelm.

* Eisai says that medical institutions that initially took a pass on the drug could introduce it later.

* Price Action: BIIB shares are up 0.68% at $345.83, while ESALY shares are down 0.33% at $82.48 during the market session on the last check Tuesday.