| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Qalsody vs Radicava
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Deep comparison between: Qalsody vs Radicava with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsRadicava has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Qalsody based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Radicava but not Qalsody, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Qalsody
Radicava
At A Glance
Intrathecal injection
Every 14 days (loading), then every 28 days
Antisense oligonucleotide
IV infusion or Oral
Daily (cyclic dosing schedule)
Indications
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Dosing
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 100 mg (15 mL) intrathecally; 3 loading doses at 14-day intervals, then 100 mg every 28 days thereafter.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis RADICAVA 60 mg IV infusion over 60 minutes or RADICAVA ORS 105 mg (5 mL) orally/via feeding tube in the morning after overnight fasting; initial cycle: daily for 14 days then 14-day drug-free period; subsequent cycles: daily for 10 days out of 14-day periods then 14-day drug-free periods.
Contraindications
—
- History of hypersensitivity to edaravone or any inactive ingredient in this product
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=10%) Pain, fatigue, arthralgia, CSF white blood cell increased, myalgia
Serious Myelitis and/or radiculitis, papilledema and elevated intracranial pressure, aseptic meningitis
Most common (>=2%) contusion, gait disturbance, headache, dermatitis, eczema, respiratory failure/disorder/hypoxia, glycosuria, tinea infection
Serious hypersensitivity reactions, sulfite allergic reactions
Postmarketing hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylaxis
Pharmacology
Tofersen is an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that binds to SOD1 mRNA, causing its degradation and reducing SOD1 protein synthesis; it is not a substrate for, or inhibitor or inducer of, CYP450 enzymes.
Edaravone is a substituted 2-pyrazolin-5-one whose therapeutic mechanism in ALS is unknown. At exposures at least 5 times the recommended dose, edaravone does not prolong the QT interval to any clinically relevant extent.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Qalsody
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (9/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (4/12)
Radicava
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (4/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Qalsody
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Radicava
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Qalsody
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Radicava
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (2/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
Cost estimate not availableAssistance Fund: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
No savings programs available for Radicava.
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QalsodyView full Qalsody profile
RadicavaView full Radicava profile
Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.