Preventative migraine treatment will enter the US market in less than a week. Called Aimovig, it is administered once a month to adult patients, who inject it themselves with the help of a lancing device.

Block the peptide responsible for pain

In a press release *, the Amgen and Novartis Laboratories reported that it was the "first and only FDA approved treatment specifically developed to prevent migraine headaches by blocking the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor ( CGRP-R) ". This peptide has the role of transmitting the signals of pain related to migraine. The Erenumab antibody, present in the drug, manages to block these messages.

Efficacy testing was performed on 3,000 patients in four clinical trials.

Count 500 euros for an injection

According to Novartis, in the US, a monthly injection of Aimovig 70 or 140 mg will cost 575 dollars, or nearly 500 euros. An invoice that will amount to $ 6,900 per year.

Currently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is studying this new treatment, to then obtain a marketing authorization (MA).

In France, between 7 and 8 million people suffer from migraines. This equates to 12% of adults and 5 to 10% of children.

* www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-and-amgen-announce-fda-approval-aimovigtm-erenumab-novel-treatment-developed-specifically-migraine-prevention