While critics warned that the costly therapy threatened to overwhelm government health programs, sales have been just a trickle,

(Bloomberg) –U.S. health insurers say they want more proof before paying for Biogen Inc.'s Aduhelm, stalling sales of the costly new Alzheimer's therapy that the company hailed as a breakthrough for patients.

None of the 25 large insurers that responded to a Bloomberg News survey judged the $56,000-a-year drug "medically necessary," a term used to describe treatments that are needed for specific ailments and meet medical standards. Most have deemed Aduhelm experimental, while some say they're still evaluating it.

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