RADICAVA Oral Suspension (edaravone)

In November 2022, Health Canada approvedRADICAVA Oral Suspension after a 180-day priority review. As of December 15, 2023, the therapy is available in all provinces through their public formularies.

RADICAVA Oral suspension (ORS) is the oral liquid form of RADICAVA, an intravenous (IV) medication for the treatment of ALS. It can be administered by mouth or via a feeding tube.

The medication is a free radical scavenger believed to reduce oxidative stress. When dysregulated, free radicals can cause significant damage to cells and, in ALS, contribute to motor neuron degeneration. Edaravone is thought to mitigate oxidative damage in ALS by reducing these free radicals.

RADICAVA was shown to slow disease progression in a clinical trial, however, the medication is not a cure for ALS and patients will still progress while undergoing treatment. This medication cannot reverse nerve damage that has already occurred.

Soon after the pCPA negotiations concluded, our community used the e-advocacy tool developed by ALS Canada and emailed the Minister of Health in their province, asking that RADICAVA Oral Suspension be made accessible through public reimbursement without further delay. Over 800 Canadians sent letters as part of the campaign and utilized our “Advocacy in a Box” toolkit to approach government in your province and call for Health Canada-approved treatments to be reimbursed and available to Canadians living with ALS in a timeframe that more accurately reflects the urgency of loss faced by this community.

In early February 2022, CADTH posted a call for patient and clinician input on RADICAVA Oral Suspension. ALS Canada prepared a submission that reflects the diversity of perspectives and experiences of people living with ALS from across the country.