Current and Ongoing Clinical Studies

This article provides a comprehensive overview of current and ongoing studies evaluating intravenous (IV) edaravone and edaravone oral suspension in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition to data from clinical practice and post hoc analyses, multiple observational and interventional studies are underway to better understand the efficacy, safety, and biological impact of edaravone in clinical settings. Key studies include SUNRISE Japan, a long-term postmarketing surveillance study of IV edaravone in Japanese patients with ALS; the ALS/Motor Neuron Disease Natural History Study, a longitudinal registry designed to inform clinical trial design and track ALS progression; and the REFINE-ALS study, which is actively collecting biomarker data to elucidate the pathophysiologic mechanisms influenced by edaravone. For edaravone oral suspension, United States Food and Drug Administration approval was supported by Study MT-1186-A01, a phase 3 trial assessing safety and tolerability over 48 weeks, with extension Study MT-1186-A03. Study MT-1186-A02, conducted as an FDA postmarketing commitment, and its extension, Study MT-1186-A04, evaluated whether investigational once daily dosing showed superior efficacy vs. the approved on/off dosing regimen. Collectively, these studies contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting the use of edaravone as a therapeutic option for ALS. They also underscore the importance of continued data collection from both clinical trials and clinical settings to inform optimal treatment strategies and combination therapy approaches as more agents become available in an evolving ALS treatment landscape.