Adults with migraine now have an additional preventative treatment option available to them, thanks to a new and unique migraine medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) is a novel, first of its kind medication developed by Amgen Inc. that blocks the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRP-R), which plays a significant role in migraine. In clinical trials, Aimovig demonstrated efficacy and consistency in reducing the number of monthly migraine days, with many patients experiencing a reduction of at least 50 percent (Amgen, 2018).
Aimovig was shown to be safe and effective in preventing migraine symptoms through several large global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, of which there were more than 2,000 patients who participated. Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies showed that Aimovig significantly reduced both the number of monthly migraine days and the use of acute migraine medicines, compared to placebo. In an ongoing open-label extension study, this lessening in the number of monthly migraine days has been shown to be sustained for a period of up to 15 months (Amgen, 2018). One study found that in patients who are difficult-to-treat – those who have had no success with up to four previous treatments – Aimovig demonstrated the ability to halve the number of monthly migraine days by greater odds compared to placebo. The medicine also has a strong safety profile; the most common side effects reported by patients in clinical trials were injection site reactions and constipation (Amgen, 2018)
Migraine is a serious and painful neurological disease that affects millions of Americans. It has a considerable impact on patients and can impede their abilities to function at work, social settings, and in other areas of their lives. Symptoms include a pulsating, throbbing pain on one side of the head, as well as nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light and/or sound, and other painful/disruptive symptoms.
To learn more about current preventative migraine treatments, including what anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies are, read our prior article on this topic.
Interested in learning more about Migraine research? Please call 561-845-0500. The Premiere Research Institute in West Palm Beach regularly conducts clinical research studies in the field of Migraines. To find out more about these studies click here or sign up for our newsletter to keep informed about the newest treatments, articles, and research that are being conducted in the field of Migraines.
References:
Amgen. (2018, May 17). FDA Approves Aimovig™ (erenumab-aooe), A Novel Treatment Developed Specifically For Migraine Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-aimovig-erenumab-aooe-a-novel-treatment-developed-specifically-for-migraine-prevention-300650778.html