What is Radicut (edaravone) for?
Radicut (edaravone) is a radical scavenger used to treat patients with ALS1,8 or ischaemic stroke1.
Radicut (edaravone) is approved in Japan under the name Radicut for both indications2 and in the USA and Canada under the name Radicava for the treatment of ALS7. Radicava and Radicut contain the same active ingredient edaravone.
How does Radicut (edaravone) work?
Free radicals such as hydroxyl radical (-OH) play a major causative role in the development of cerebral vascular disorder resulting from ischaemia. During ischaemia or ischaemic reperfusion, the production of free radicals increases which leads to cell membrane injury and ultimately to cerebral dysfunction1.
Although the etiology of development and disease progress of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are unknown, a possible involvement of oxidative stress caused by free radicals is suggested1.
The mechanism by which edaravone exerts its therapeutic effect in patients with ALS is unknown8. It is expected that edaravone scavenges free radicals and prevents oxidative damage to brain cells (vascular endothelial cells/nerve cells). In the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), this product is expected to suppress the disease progression by exerting its inhibitory effects against the development of oxidative damage to nerve cells1.
Where has Radicut (edaravone) been approved?
Radicut (edaravone) was approved by:
PMDA (JAP) as Radicut:
in June 2001 for acute ischemic stroke2
in June 2015 for the treatment of ALS2.
FDA (USA) on May 5, 2017, as Radicava for the treatment of ALS7.
Health Canada on October 2, 2018, as Radicava for the treatment of ALS10.
Please note that this medicine may have also been approved in other regions than the ones we’ve listed. If you have a question about its approval in a specific country feel free to contact our support team.
How is Radicut (edaravone) taken?
The standard dosage for adult patients affected by disorders associated with ischaemic stroke is1:
30 mg of edaravone diluted with an appropriate volume of physiological saline, etc., which is administered intravenously over 30 minutes twice a day in the morning and the evening.
Administration of this product should be initiated within 24 hours after the onset of the disease, and the duration of administration should be within 14 days.
The standard dosage for adult patients with ALS is1,8:
60 mg of edaravone administered intravenously over 60 minutes once a day.
First cycle: daily dosing for 14 days followed by a 14-day drug-free period
Subsequent treatment cycles: daily dosing for 10 days out of 14-day periods, followed by 14-day drug-free periods.
Radicut, distributed by MT Pharma Japan, is supplied in two formats1:
Single-dose infusion bags containing 30 mg / 100 mL clear, colorless, sterile solution. The infusion bags are ready for use. No dilution is required. Two infusion bags are needed for one infusion.
Single-dose vials containing 30 mg / 20 mL clear, colorless, sterile solution. Before the infusion, it should be diluted with an appropriate volume of physiological saline. Two vials are needed for one infusion.
Radicava, distributed by MT Pharma America, Inc, is supplied in single-dose polypropylene bags containing 30 mg/100 mL clear, colourless, sterile solution for intravenous infusion (no dilution needed). Each 60 mg dose should be administered as two consecutive 30 mg intravenous infusion bags over a total of 60 minutes (infusion rate approximately 1 mg per minute)8.
Complete information about Radicut (edaravone) dosage and administration can be found for Radicut1 and for Radicava8 in our resources section.
Note: Please consult with your treating doctor for personalised dosing.
Are there any known side effects of Radicut (edaravone)?
The most common side effects reported by clinical trial participants receiving edaravone were bruising (contusion) and gait disturbance. It is also associated with serious risks that require immediate medical care, such as hives, swelling, or shortness of breath, and allergic reactions to sodium bisulfite, an ingredient in the drug7.
For a comprehensive list of side effects and adverse reactions please refer to the official prescribing information1,8.
