Edaravone: A new hope for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Although the exact pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains unclear, oxidative stress is known to play a pivotal role. There is no cure for ALS, but there are two drugs available to slow the progression of the disease. Till recently, riluzole, a glutamatergic neurotransmission inhibitor, was the only drug approved for ALS. However, in May 2017, edaravone, which is a potent-free radical scavenger, was also approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of ALS. In this article, the mechanism of action of edaravone and clinical trials establishing its efficacy are reviewed.

Keywords

• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• edaravone
• motor neuron disease
• oxidative stress