Three important things to know about Radicava

The ALS Association is the largest charity for people with Lou Gehrig’s disease in the United States. Not only do they provide excellent patient care through caregivers and support groups, they are also the leading fundraiser for new research when it comes to ALS treatment and a possible cure. During the summer of 2014, the ALS Association’s Ice Bucket Challenge went viral online, raising more than $ 100 million. This was the most donations ALS fundraising events had ever seen. They were ecstatic! This increase in funding led to the research and development of three new treatments for Lou Gehrig’s disease, one of them Radicava, which will likely be available in August this year. This is what you need to know:

1. Radicava slows down the progress of ALS by reducing oxidative stress in the body. ALS is essentially a slow reduction in the body’s ability to function in general. This eventually leads to the shutdown of vital organs within the body. One of the first signs of ALS is the presence of oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between the presence of toxins in the body and the immune system’s ability to detoxify. These effects will first manifest as a general slowdown in autoimmune capabilities followed by the more sinister effects of ALS, such as major organ failure. Radicava offers some time alone for these unfortunate realities. The new drug has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and most patients see a 33% reduction in the deterioration of their physical abilities. Additionally, all patients on the Radicava test scored higher on the ALS functional rating scale.

2. First new drug in 22 years. Because the origins of ALS are still largely misunderstood, it is incredibly difficult to approve and test new drugs. Since the mid-1800s, our understanding of the causes of ALS has not kept up with other medical advances. Because of this, it is incredibly difficult to find funding for new treatments when legislatures do not understand the medicinal premise. The first and last drug approved for the treatment of ALS was riluzole, which slowed down lung failure. Unfortunately, the relatively small benefit offered to ALS patients compared to its astronomical costs essentially relegated Riluzole to a pipe dream state. The mystery surrounding its origins, combined with a lack of funding, led to a two-decade dry spell of ASL treatment. However, after the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge, three new drugs were submitted to the FDA for approval. The first to hit the pharmaceutical market will be Radicava in August!

3. Administered by infusion. At this point, you are probably wondering how Radicava will be administered to patients. Is it too intrusive or painful? Will it even be worth it? For those who participated in drug trials, Radicava absolutely is. Treatment is administered intravenously over a period of fourteen days, followed by a fourteen-day break. After initial treatment, patients will receive injections for 10 days out of every 14 days. While this is a time-consuming treatment, this is the first ASL drug with a legitimate promise to not only extend the lives of people with Lou Gehrig’s disease, but also improve their quality of life!

After so many years of failed treatments and questions about the origins of ALS, Radicava’s approval is a beacon of hope for patients and their loved ones.