Drug may halve migraine attacks for millions

MIGRAINE sufferers have new hope of relief after trials showed that a new drug can halve the number of attacks.

About 8.5million people in Britain suffer migraines and there are 200,000 attacks every day for which lying in a darkened room is often the only relief.

The World Health Organization rates migraine as one of the top 10 causes of disability, and it costs the UK economy £2.25 billion a year in lost work days.

However, the new drug, erenumab, appears to halve the number of working days lost for many patients.

The new treatment is an antibody designed to block the calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP) receptor in the brain, which plays a crucial role in sparking a migraine. CGRP is a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, which instructs the brain to activate sensory nerves in the head and neck.

The latest trial involved 955 patients who received a monthly injection of the drug, or placebo, over 24 weeks. On average, patients injected with erenumab had three fewer migraine days each month compared to their usual average of eight days. For 50 per cent, the number of attacks was halved.

Patients treated with the drug also reported improved physical health and ability to participate in daily activities over the six-month trial period.

Dr Peter Goadsby, professor of neurology at King’s College London, who led the third phase of the clinical trial, said: “It represents a real transition for migraine patients and is an incredibly important step forward for understanding and treatment.”

Simon Evans, of Migraine Action, said: “Migraine can be a debilitating, chronic condition that can destroy lives. An option that can prevent migraine and that is [also] well tolerated is therefore sorely needed.”

Novartis, the company that makes the drug, has now applied for a licence from the European Medicines Agency. The trial results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.