Updated March 10, 2021
Updated October 5, 2020
Updated May 28, 2020
Updated May 19, 2022
Updated January 19, 2023
Originally posted October 22, 2019
In October 2018, Health Canada approved Radicava (edaravone) for use in Canada. As edaravone continues to move through the drug access pathway to become available to Canadians, there will continue to be important updates for those in our community who are currently accessing the treatment or interested in doing so. This blog post will be updated as information about edaravone becomes available.
Throughout this process, we will continue to work with ALS Societies across Canada to bring forward the experiences and perspectives of Canadians living with ALS. For this therapy, and for future proven therapies, we will continue to advocate to government to streamline the drug access pathway and improve its transparency.
Personal Importation
Can I still bring edaravone into Canada through personal importation?
Health Canada has confirmed that personal importation of edaravone is being extended beyond the initial April 1, 2020 date, until October 1, 2020. They then extended the date from October 1, 2020 until April 1, 2021, from April 1, 2021 until October 1, 2021, from October 1, 2021 until April 1, 2022 and now again from April 1, 2022 until October 1, 2022. This includes people having the medication shipped to them as well as carrying it on their person. Your ALS clinician will also have up-to-date information.
Public Reimbursement:
Is the drug available through the public healthcare system/public reimbursement?
As of November 23, 2021, all provinces and territories across Canada – as well as Veterans Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada – are now covering Radicava through their public formularies.
Commercial Availability:
What is the current status of edaravone within the drug access pathway?
As of November 23, 2021, all provinces and territories across Canada – as well as Veterans Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada – are now covering Radicava through their public formularies.
What is the current status of oral edaravone within the drug access pathway?
In November 2022, Health Canada approved oral edaravone after a 180-day priority review. At this stage in the drug access processes, the therapy is not commercially available yet and it is not yet covered through private or public drug programs. CADTH (and INESSS in Quebec) released recommendations to reimburse the therapy with conditions. Oral edaravone is not yet on the list of drugs in active pricing negotiations with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA). Following pCPA negotiations, each province/territory does an independent review of the drug and decides if and how the public drug plan will cover the therapy.
More Information:
- Radicava (edaravone): Take Action for Access (ALS Canada blog post, January 20, 2020)
- Health Canada has approved Radicava (edaravone), a second ALS treatment for Canadians (ALS Canada blog post, October 4, 2018)
- How new drugs become approved and available to Canadians (ALS Canada blog post, April 9, 2018)
- Radicava (edaravone): Make your voice heard (ALS Canada blog post, June 11, 2018 | updated July 18, 2018)
- A second ALS drug, edaravone, has been newly approved in the United States (ALS Canada blog post, May 8, 2017 | updated October 5, 2017)