- June 29, 2018
- Posted by: PharmaScroll
- Category:
- Results from a one-year study of efficacy and safety of Aimovig in chronic migraine and data from a three-year analysis assessing safety and tolerability of Aimovig in episodic migraine will be presented at AHS
- Aimovig showed robust efficacy in patients with chronic migraine, with substantial reductions in monthly migraine days sustained throughout the study
- Safety data in both studies were consistent with the placebo-like safety profile seen for Aimovig across the clinical trial program of 3,000 patients
- Aimovig is the first and only FDA-approved treatment designed specifically to prevent migraine; EMA approval is expected in the coming months
Novartis announced the results of two open-label extension studies (OLE) of Aimovig (erenumab) in patients with chronic and episodic migraine, which will be presented at the 60th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society in San Francisco. The data reinforce the established safety and efficacy profile of Aimovig in long-term use for patients with chronic migraine. In addition, data will be presented from the longest running study of a CGRP therapy, demonstrating the long-term safety and tolerability of Aimovig in episodic migraine. Aimovig is the first and only FDA-approved treatment specifically developed to prevent migraine by blocking the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRP-R), which is believed to play a critical role in migraine.
In the study in chronic migraine patients (15 or more migraine days per month), the primary and secondary endpoints were long-term safety and efficacy, respectively. The safety results after one year were consistent with the established safety profile of Aimovig in previous studies. The most frequent adverse events (AEs) were viral upper respiratory tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, arthralgia, and migraine.
The efficacy data showed sustained benefits up to one year. Compared to a baseline of 18.1 average monthly migraine days, patients taking Aimovig 140mg and 70mg (based on last dose received) respectively achieved a:
- Substantial reduction of average monthly migraine days – 10.5 and 8.5 days
- 50% or more reduction in monthly migraine days – 67% and 53%
- 75% or more reduction in monthly migraine days – 42% and 27%
- Migraine-free status (100% reduction) – 13% and 6%
“These data showing sustained efficacy and consistent safety and tolerability of Aimovig over an extended period of time are important for migraine patients and their clinicians to know,” said Stewart J. Tepper, M.D., professor of neurology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School. “Collectively these data reinforce the safety and tolerability of Aimovig, and having a treatment specifically designed for migraine has the potential to truly improve the lives of those living with this neurological disease.”
The results from a three-year interim data analysis of the five-year OLE study assessing safety in episodic migraine (four or more migraine days per month) showed Aimovig had a safety profile consistent with the spectrum and rate of AEs seen in shorter-term placebo-controlled studies. The most frequent AEs were viral upper respiratory tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, influenza, and back pain and there were no new safety signals.
“Following FDA approval, with European approval anticipated in the coming months, we are very pleased to report positive long-term safety and efficacy results for Aimovig,” said Danny Bar-Zohar, Global Head of Neuroscience Development at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. “For patients who have suffered from migraine for years, these new data further confirm that Aimovig may offer long-term sustained and safe relief from migraine and the heavy burden it imposes.”
Aimovig was approved by the FDA on May 17, 2018. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) delivered a positive opinion for Aimovig for the prevention of migraine in adults on May 31, 2018. The European Commission will review the CHMP opinion before delivering its final decision.
Novartis and Amgen are co-commercializing Aimovig in the U.S, Amgen has exclusive commercialization rights to the drug in Japan and Novartis has exclusive rights to commercialize in the rest of the world.
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News Source: Novartis website
Image Source: https://www.wptv.com/news/health/aimovig-us-approves-1st-drug-developed-to-prevent-chronic-migraines