Objectives: Migraine is a neurological disease with recurrent headache pain, accompanied by e. g. photophobia or nausea. Number of headache days classifies to episodic or chronic migraine (EM/CM). The anti-Calcitonin-Gene-Related-Peptide (CGRP) antibody fremanezumab offers a new type of prophylaxis. Methods: In two Phase-3-trials patients with CM or EM were randomized in 1:1:1 ratio to receive subcutaneous fremanezumab quarterly (single dose: 675 mg), fremanezumab monthly (HALO-CM/HALO-EM: 675/225 mg as loading dose and 225 mg at week 4/8) or placebo. During the German market access process, the Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA) defined different patient populations. G-BA defined the appropriate comparator therapy (ACT) for the population of untreated patients and those with inadequate response to at least one prior preventive migraine medications: propranolol/metoprolol, topiramate, amitriptyline or flunarizine. Placebo patients did not start the medication during the trial but were continuing their pre-existing medication (ACT). Results for placebo + ACT (n=49/45) vs. fremanezumab (quarterly n=322/256, monthly n=325/249) are presented. Results: Under fremanezumab, more EM as well as CM patients reached clinical meaningful reduction by $ 50 % of their monthly migraine days (EM quarterly: RRs = 3.06, p = 0.0015, monthly: 3.38, p = 0.0005, CM: 2.39, p = 0.0150, 2.61, p = 0.0073). A reduction of $ 50 % of monthly headache days of at least moderate severity was seen (EM: RRs = 2.92, p = 0.0010, 3.01, p = 0.0007, CM: 1.98, p = 0.0187, 2.23, p = 0.0054). Patients with CM used significantly less acute migraine-specific medication (Hedges' g =-0.56 [-0.868,-0.262]). In patients with EM, fremanezumab led to significantly less serious adverse events compared with patients taking ACT (RRs = 0.18, p = 0.0298, 0.12, p = 0.0187). Conclusions: Fremanezumab as migraine prophylaxis resulted in a lower frequency of headache compared to placebo along with beta-blockers, topiramate, amitriptyline or flunarizine.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.