Radicava (also known as Edaravone)

Mechanism:

Radicava is an antioxidant and theorized to reduce oxidative stress, which is a process central to neuronal death in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).  In a phase 3 clinical trial in Japan and South Korea, 137 patients with ALS were administered Radicava or Placebo; the patients who received Radicava experienced significantly less deterioration in physical abilities compared to the placebo group.

Indications:

FDA approved since May 2017 for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), especially early stage.

Contraindications:

Patients with allergies to Sodium Bisulfite should not start on Radicava.

Administration:

Radicava is recommended to be administered by 1 hour intravenous infusion daily for 14 days for the first cycle, followed by 14 day rest.  Subsequent cycles are infused daily for 10 days, followed by at least a 14 day rest.