Shefner J, Heiman-Patterson T, Pioro EP, et al. - In a a post-hoc analysis from the open-label Phase 3 study, to better know the long-term efficiency of edaravone therapy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) individuals, researchers contrasted the impact of edaravone for 48 weeks with that of placebo for 24 weeks followed by edaravone for 24 weeks, or for projected placebo from baseline through week 48. A total of 123 individuals got open-label treatment (edaravone-edaravone, n = 65; placebo-edaravone, n = 58). For placebo from baseline through week 48, the projected ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) drop was greater compared with the 48-week edaravone. For individuals shifting from placebo to edaravone, ALSFRS-R slope approached that of extended edaravone for 48 weeks. Between actual and projected edaravone, ALSFRS-R drop did not vary through week 48. Therefore, these analyses propose that in comparison with placebo, edaravone is advantageous in ALS individuals even following 6 months of receiving placebo and efficiency is sustained for up to 1 year.