Food Effect Study to Assess the Impact on Edaravone Pharmacokinetic Profiles in Healthy Participants

The safety and efficacy of intravenous edaravone, a neuroprotectant used for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have been shown in clinical trials. An oral suspension of edaravone has been developed, but the food effect on its pharmacokinetic profile has not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the food effect on the pharmacokinetic profile of edaravone after oral administration and to investigate dosing regimens and administration instructions with different meal intake and timing.

Data from 3 Phase I clinical studies were used to evaluate the effect of food on the pharmacokinetic profiles of a single dose of edaravone oral suspension. In all 3 studies, participants received a single dose of edaravone with various meal conditions. Healthy Japanese adult male participants (Studies 1, 2, and 3) or female participants (Study 3) aged 20 to 45 years at the time of informed consent were included.

In Study 1, 6 participants were enrolled and 5 completed the study. Nine and 16 participants were treated in Studies 2 and 3, respectively, and all completed the study. The C_max and AUC_0-∞ of edaravone were lower when administered 30 minutes after a high-fat meal compared with those in a fasted condition (Study 1). Lower plasma edaravone concentrations (approximately within the first hour) and subsequent lower C_max and AUC_0-∞ were observed after administration of edaravone 4 hours after a high-fat meal (Study 2) or 2 hours after a low-fat meal (Study 3). The C_max and AUC_0-∞ of oral edaravone were generally similar and not affected when administered 8 hours after a high-fat meal, 4 hours after a low-fat meal, or 2 hours after a light meal relative to the fasted condition. Administration of edaravone 1 hour before a high-fat meal resulted in no effect on C_max or AUC_0-∞ relative to the fasted condition. Administration of edaravone in the fed or fasted conditions resulted in a similar urine pharmacokinetic profile.

Oral administration of edaravone with a meal decreased the plasma concentration of edaravone. Oral administration of edaravone 8 hours after a high-fat meal, 4 hours after a low-fat meal, 2 hours after a light meal, and 1 hour before a high-fat meal showed no effect of food on the PK profile of unchanged edaravone compared with that observed under a fasted condition.

gov identifiers: NCT04481750, NCT04481789, and NCT05342597.