Edaravone
/api/v1/drug/edaravoneMechanism of action
Sourced from openFDAThe mechanism by which RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS exert their therapeutic effect in patients with ALS is unknown.
Indications
Sourced from openFDA- RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS are indicated for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS are indicated for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Contraindications
Sourced from openFDA- RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS are contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to edaravone or any of the inactive ingredients in this product. Hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylactic reactions have occurred [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 , 5.2) ].contraindicated
Dosage & administration
Sourced from openFDARADICAVA: The recommended dosage is 60 mg administered as an intravenous infusion over 60 minutes ( 2.1 ) RADICAVA ORS: The recommended dosage is 105 mg (5 mL) taken orally or via feeding tube in the morning after overnight fasting. Food should not be consumed for 1 hour after administration except water ( 2.1 , 2.3 ) For RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS: Initial treatment cycle: daily dosing for 14 days followed by a 14-day drug-free period ( 2.1 ) Subsequent treatment cycles: daily dosing for 10 days out of 14-day periods, followed by 14-day drug-free periods ( 2.1 ) 2.1 Dosage Information The recommended dosage of RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS is as follows: RADICAVA: an intravenous infusion of 60 mg administered over a 60-minute period RADICAVA ORS: 105 mg (5 mL) taken orally or via feeding tube in the morning after overnight fasting [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] Administer RADICAVA or RADICAVA ORS according to the following schedule: An initial treatment cycle with daily dosing for 14 days, followed by a 14-day drug-free period Subsequent treatment cycles with daily dosing for 10 days out of 14-day periods, followed by 14-day drug-free periods 2.2 Preparation and Administration Information for RADICAVA Injection RADICAVA is for intravenous infusion only. Preparation Do not use if the oxygen indicator has turned blue or purple before opening the package . Once the overwrap package is opened, use within 24 hours [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.1 , 16.2) ].
Warnings & precautions
Sourced from openFDAHypersensitivity Reactions: Advise patients to seek immediate medical care ( 5.1 ) Sulfite Allergic Reactions: RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS contain sodium bisulfite, which may cause allergic type reactions, including anaphylactic symptoms and asthmatic episodes in susceptible people ( 5.2 ) 5.1 Hypersensitivity Reactions Hypersensitivity reactions (redness, wheals, and erythema multiforme) and cases of anaphylaxis (urticaria, decreased blood pressure, and dyspnea) have been reported in spontaneous postmarketing reports with RADICAVA. Patients should be monitored carefully for hypersensitivity reactions. If hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue RADICAVA and/or RADICAVA ORS, treat per standard of care, and monitor until the condition resolves [see Contraindications (4) ]. 5.2 Sulfite Allergic Reactions RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS contain sodium bisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic type reactions, including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown. Sulfite sensitivity occurs more frequently in asthmatic than non-asthmatic people.
Adverse reactions
Sourced from openFDAThe following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Sulfite Allergic Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Most common adverse reactions (at least 10% of patients treated with RADICAVA and greater than placebo) are contusion, gait disturbance, and headache ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Shionogi Inc. at 1-888-292-0058 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In randomized, placebo-controlled trials, 184 patients with ALS were administered RADICAVA 60 mg in treatment cycles for 6 months. The population consisted of Japanese patients who had a median age of 60 years (range 29-75) and were 59% male. Most (93%) of these patients were living independently at the time of screening. Most Common Adverse Reactions Observed During Clinical Studies Table 2 lists the adverse reactions that occurred in ≥2% of patients in the RADICAVA-treated group and that occurred at least 2% more frequently than in the placebo-treated group in randomized placebo-controlled ALS trials. The most common adverse reactions that occurred in ≥10% of RADICAVA-treated patients were contusion, gait disturbance, and headache.
Use in specific populations
Sourced from openFDAPregnancy: Based on animal data, may cause fetal harm. ( 8.1 ) 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with the use of RADICAVA or RADICAVA ORS in pregnant women. In animal studies, administration of edaravone to pregnant rats and rabbits resulted in adverse developmental effects (increased mortality, decreased growth, delayed sexual development, and altered behavior) at clinically relevant doses. Most of these effects occurred at doses that were also associated with maternal toxicity (see Animal Data ). In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. The background risk for major birth defects and miscarriage in patients with ALS is unknown. Data Animal Data In rats, intravenous administration of edaravone (0, 3, 30, or 300 mg/kg/day) throughout the period of organogenesis resulted in reduced fetal weight at all doses. In dams allowed to deliver naturally, offspring weight was reduced at the highest dose tested. Maternal toxicity was also observed at the highest dose tested. There were no adverse effects on reproductive function in the offspring.
Pharmacokinetics
Sourced from openFDA- Metabolism
- RADICAVA is administered by IV infusion. The maximum plasma concentration (C max ) of edaravone was reached by the end of infusion.
Approval history
Sourced from openFDA- May 12, 2022NDANDA215446Shionogi
- May 6, 2024ANDAANDA216199Gland
- Oct 31, 2024ANDAANDA217565Pharmobedient
- Dec 23, 2024ANDAANDA216902Sandoz
FAERS reports
- 1Death18513%
- 2Cerebral Infarction956.4%
- 3Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis734.9%
- 4Disease Progression714.8%
- 5Drug Ineffective553.7%
- 6Dyspnoea483.2%
- 7Off Label Use483.2%
- 8Diarrhoea422.8%
- 9Muscular Weakness422.8%
- 10Pneumonia412.8%
- 11Fatigue402.7%
- 12Condition Aggravated372.5%
- 13Asthenia332.2%
- 14Pyrexia302.0%
- 15Dysphagia292.0%
Literature
Recent PubMed references pinned to Edaravone as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Protective Effect of Edaravone on Doxorubicin-Induced Thyroid Dysfunction in Rats Revealed by (99m)Tc Pertechnetate Thyroid Gland Scintigraphy and Biochemical Methods.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026 · Kalın M, Aygun H, Karakullukcu HK, et al.PMID 42195147DOI 10.3390/medicina62050894
- Promising Synthetic Antioxidants of Dimethyltin(IV) Formulations Derived From 4-Acylated Edaravone: Design, DFT Assisted Optimized Molecular Structure and Mechanistic Insights into SET Versus HAT Pathways for Antioxidant Activity.Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology · 2026 · Kumawat A, Soni K, Saxena S, et al.PMID 42101074DOI 10.1002/jbt.70832
- Adverse events in different administration routes of Edaravone: A pharmacovigilance study based on the FDA adverse event reporting system.PloS one · 2026 · Ge D, Wu L, Yang J, et al.PMID 41973722DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0346797
- Effect of edaravone on synaptic damage in Alzheimer's disease via Rho/ROCK signaling.Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences · 2026 · Li Y, Lai Q, Li Q, et al.PMID 41934300DOI 10.36721/PJPS.2026.39.6.154.1
- Trial of Edaravone for severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in adults: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.Journal of neurology · 2026 · Razmeh S, Karimi AA, Dashti AM, et al.PMID 41832246DOI 10.1007/s00415-026-13723-2
- Prospective Open-Label Safety Study of Edaravone Dexborneol in Filipino Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke.Brain and behavior · 2026 · Sabellano ZF, Pedregosa B 2nd, Batino LK, et al.PMID 41804749DOI 10.1002/brb3.71272
- Borneol-Edaravone mitigates ischemic brain injury in MCAO rats.Journal of neuroimmunology · 2026 · Zhuang XF, Zhang T, Zeng YQ, et al.PMID 41793953DOI 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2026.578901
- Edaravone dexborneol promotes oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation and differentiation to repair white matter and improve long-term outcomes after ischemic stroke.Brain research bulletin · 2026 · Han W, Duan T, Xu J, et al.PMID 41763584DOI 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2026.111797
Clinical trials
The 10 most recently updated of 72 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Edaravone as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.
- Biomarkers in Different Types of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Patients Being Treated With EdaravoneRecruiting · Observational · 160 enrolled · Loma Linda UniversityNCT04097158updated 2026-06-05
- Safety and Pharmacokinetics of MCI-186 in Subjects With Acute Ischemic StrokeCompleted · Phase 2 · Interventional · 36 enrolled · Tanabe Pharma CorporationNCT00821821updated 2026-06-04
- Edaravone Dexborneol for Post-Stroke EpilepsyNot yet recruiting · Phase 3 · Interventional · 160 enrolled · First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityNCT07604350updated 2026-05-22
- Safety Study of Oral Edaravone Administered in Subjects With ALSCompleted · Phase 3 · Interventional · 185 enrolled · Tanabe Pharma America, Inc.NCT04165824updated 2026-05-22
- Safety Extension Study of Oral Edaravone Administered in Subjects With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)Completed · Phase 3 · Interventional · 124 enrolled · Tanabe Pharma America, Inc.NCT04577404updated 2026-05-22
- Efficacy and Safety Study of Oral Edaravone Administered in Subjects With ALSTerminated · Phase 3 · Interventional · 384 enrolled · Tanabe Pharma America, Inc.NCT04569084updated 2026-05-22
- Clinical Pharmacology Study of Oral Edaravone in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisCompleted · Phase 1 · Interventional · 9 enrolled · Tanabe Pharma CorporationNCT04176224updated 2026-05-22
- Extension Study Following the Studies MT-1186-A03 or A04 to Evaluate the Safety of Oral Edaravone in Subjects With ALSCompleted · Phase 3 · Interventional · 15 enrolled · Tanabe Pharma CorporationNCT05568615updated 2026-05-22
- Clinical Pharmacology Study of Oral Edaravone in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients With GastrostomyCompleted · Phase 1 · Interventional · 6 enrolled · Tanabe Pharma CorporationNCT04254913updated 2026-05-22
- Clinical Pharmacology Study of Oral Edaravone in Healthy Adult Subjects (Food Effect Study)Completed · Phase 1 · Interventional · 16 enrolled · Tanabe Pharma CorporationNCT05342597updated 2026-05-22
Frequently asked questions
- How does Edaravone work?
- The mechanism by which RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS exert their therapeutic effect in patients with ALS is unknown.
- What is Edaravone used for?
- According to FDA labeling, Edaravone carries indications including: RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS are indicated for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS are indicated for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
- What class of drug is Edaravone?
- Edaravone is classified as Other nervous system drugs, Unknown Cellular or Molecular Interaction.
- What are the brand names for Edaravone?
- Edaravone is marketed under brand names including Radicava.
- What are the contraindications for Edaravone?
- Edaravone labeling lists contraindications including: RADICAVA and RADICAVA ORS are contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to edaravone or any of the inactive ingredients in this product. Hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylactic reactions have occurred [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 , 5.2) ].. Always consult the full prescribing information and a clinician.
edaravone is illustrative MVP content compiled from public sources. pharmacopeia is for educational and informational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.