A New Mechanism for Migraine Prevention


This is the Medscape Neurology Minute. I am Dr Alan Jacobs. Two phase 2 studies presented at the 66th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology have tested the ability of monoclonal antibodies to prevent migraine headaches. In both studies, antibodies directed against the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were employed. In the first study, 163 people with migraines from 5 to 14 days per month were given either a single intravenous dose of a drug called ALD403, or placebo, and followed for 24 weeks. Those who received the antibody had 66% fewer migraine days per month compared with a 52% reduction in those receiving placebo. Of those receiving the antibody, 16% had no migraine days at 12 weeks, whereas none in the placebo group were migraine-free at that point. There were no differences in side effects between the groups. In the second study, 217 people with an average of 4 to 14 migraine days per month received biweekly subcutaneous injections of placebo or a drug called LY2951742. Those who received this antibody had 63% fewer migraine days per month, compared with a 42% reduction in those receiving the placebo. Those receiving this antibody were more likely to have side effects, including pain at the injection site, upper respiratory infections, and abdominal pain, but overall the antibody was considered safe and well tolerated. The investigators concluded that these results potentially represent a new mechanism-based era in prevention and therapy for migraine. This has been the Medscape Neurology Minute. I'm Dr Alan Jacobs.

Abstract

Abstract