Faculty Opinions recommendation of OnabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of chronic migraine: pooled results from the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phases of the PREEMPT clinical program.

Abstract Background Galcanezumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds calcitonin gene-related peptide, has demonstrated a significant reduction in monthly migraine headache days compared with placebo. Here, we analyze data from 3 randomized clinical trials (2 episodic trials [EVOLVE-1, EVOLVE-2] and 1 chronic trial [REGAIN]), to examine if galcanezumab also alleviates the severity and symptoms of migraine. Methods The episodic migraine trials were 6-month, double-blind studies in patients with episodic migraine (4–14 monthly migraine headache days). The chronic migraine trial was a 3-month, double-blind study in patients with chronic migraine (≥ 15 headache days per month, where ≥ 8 met criteria for migraine). Patients (18–65 years) were randomized to placebo or galcanezumab 120 mg with a 240-mg loading dose or 240 mg. Patients recorded headache characteristics, duration, severity, and presence of associated symptoms with each headache. The outcomes analyzed were changes from baseline in number of monthly migraine headache days with nausea and/or vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia, aura, and prodromal symptoms other than aura. Additional outcomes analyzed included the number of moderate-to-severe monthly migraine headache days, number of severe migraine headache days, and mean severity of remaining migraine headache days. Change from baseline in the proportion of days with nausea and/or vomiting and the proportion of days with photophobia and phonophobia among the remaining monthly migraine headache days were also analyzed. Results Galcanezumab was superior to placebo in reducing the frequency of migraine headache days with associated symptoms of migraine such as nausea and/or vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia, and prodromal symptoms. Galcanezumab reduced the frequency of migraine headache days with aura in the episodic migraine studies. There was a significant reduction in the proportion of remaining migraine headache days with nausea and/or vomiting for the episodic and chronic migraine studies, and with photophobia and phonophobia for the episodic migraine studies. Galcanezumab was superior to placebo in reducing the number of monthly moderate-to-severe migraine headache days and the overall and monthly severe migraine headache days. Conclusions Galcanezumab reduces the frequency of migraine headache days and can alleviate potentially disabling non-pain symptoms on days when migraine is present in patients with episodic or chronic migraine. Trial registration NCT, NCT02614183 (EVOLVE-1), registered 25 November 2015; NCT, NCT02614196, (EVOLVE-2), registered 25 November 2015; NCT, NCT02614261 (REGAIN), registered 25 November 2015.

Download Full-text

Efficacy and safety of fremanezumab in patients with episodic and chronic migraine with documented inadequate response to 2 to 4 classes of migraine preventive medications over 6 months of treatment in the phase 3b FOCUS study

The Journal of Headache and Pain ◽

10.1186/s10194-021-01279-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Messoud Ashina ◽

Joshua M. Cohen ◽

Maja Galic ◽

Verena Ramirez Campos ◽

Steve Barash ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Migraine ◽

Medication Use ◽

Episodic Migraine ◽

Inadequate Response ◽

Open Label ◽

Double Blind ◽

Moderate Severity ◽

Preventive Medication ◽

Open Label Extension ◽

Acute Headache

Abstract Background Fremanezumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody (IgG2Δa) selectively targets the calcitonin gene-related peptide and has proven efficacy for the preventive treatment of migraine. In this study, we evaluated the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of monthly and quarterly fremanezumab. Methods Episodic migraine and chronic migraine patients completing the 12-week double-blind period of the FOCUS trial entered the 12-week open-label extension and received 3 monthly doses of fremanezumab (225 mg). Changes from baseline in monthly migraine days, monthly headache days of at least moderate severity, days of acute headache medication use, days with photophobia/phonophobia, days with nausea or vomiting, disability scores, and proportion of patients achieving a ≥50% or ≥75% reduction in monthly migraine days were evaluated. Results Of the 807 patients who completed the 12-week double-blind treatment period and entered the open-label extension, 772 patients completed the study. In the placebo, quarterly fremanezumab, and monthly fremanezumab dosing regimens, respectively, patients had fewer average monthly migraine days (mean [standard deviation] change from baseline: − 4.7 [5.4]; − 5.1 [4.7]; − 5.5 [5.0]), monthly headache days of at least moderate severity (− 4.5 [5.0]; − 4.8 [4.5]; − 5.2 [4.9]), days per month of acute headache medication use (− 4.3 [5.2]; − 4.9 [4.6]; − 4.8 [4.9]), days with photophobia/phonophobia (− 3.1 [5.3]; − 3.4 [5.3]; − 4.0 [5.2]), and days with nausea or vomiting (− 2.3 [4.6]; − 3.1 [4.5]; − 3.0 [4.4]). During the 12-week open-label extension, 38%, 45%, and 46% of patients, respectively, achieved a ≥50% reduction and 16%, 15%, and 20%, respectively, achieved a ≥75% reduction in monthly migraine days. Disability scores were substantially improved in all 3 treatment groups. There were low rates of adverse events leading to discontinuation (<1%). Conclusion Fremanezumab demonstrated sustained efficacy up to 6 months and was well tolerated in patients with episodic migraine or chronic migraine and documented inadequate response to multiple migraine preventive medication classes. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03308968 (FOCUS).

Download Full-text

Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of TEV-48125 for preventive treatment of chronic migraine: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b study

The Lancet Neurology ◽

10.1016/s1474-4422(15)00245-8 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 1091-1100 ◽

Cited By ~ 152

Author(s):

Marcelo E Bigal ◽

Lars Edvinsson ◽

Alan M Rapoport ◽

Richard B Lipton ◽

Egilius L H Spierings ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Migraine ◽

Preventive Treatment ◽

Double Blind ◽

Double Blind Placebo

Download Full-text

TOP-PRO study: A randomized double-blind controlled trial of topiramate versus propranolol for prevention of chronic migraine

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/03331024211047454 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 033310242110474

Author(s):

Debashish Chowdhury ◽

Luv Bansal ◽

Ashish Duggal ◽

Debabrata Datta ◽

Ankit Mundra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Events ◽

Chronic Migraine ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Preventive Treatment ◽

Point Estimate ◽

Tolerability Profile ◽

Double Blind ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

Objective The aim of the TOP-PRO-study, a double-blind randomized controlled trial, was to assess the efficacy (non-inferiority) and tolerability of propranolol compared to topiramate for the prevention of chronic migraine. Background Except for topiramate, oral preventive treatment for chronic migraine lacks credible evidence. Methods Chronic migraine patients aged above 18 years and less than 65 years of age, not on any preventive treatment were randomly allocated to receive topiramate (100 mg/day) or propranolol (160 mg/day). The primary efficacy outcome was the mean change in migraine days per 28 days at the end of 24 weeks from baseline. A mean difference of 1.5 days per four weeks was chosen as the cut-off delta value. Multiple secondary efficacy outcomes and treatment emergent adverse events were also assessed. Results As against the planned sample size of 244, only 175 patients could be enrolled before the spread of the corona virus disease-2019 pandemic and enforcement of lockdown in India. Of the 175 randomized patients, 95 (topiramate 46 and propranolol 49) completed the trial. The mean change in migraine days was −5.3 ± 1.2 vs −7.3 ± 1.1 days (p = 0.226) for topiramate and propranolol groups respectively. Propranolol was found to be non-inferior and not superior to topiramate (point estimate of −1.99 with a 95% confidence interval of −5.23 to 1.25 days). Multiple secondary outcomes also did not differ between the two groups. Intention to treat analysis of 175 patients and per-protocol analysis of 95 patients yielded concordant results. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups. Conclusion Propranolol (160mg/day) was non-inferior, non-superior to topiramate (100mg/day) for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine and had a comparable tolerability profile. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Registry-India CTRI/2019/05/018997)

Download Full-text

Abstract 5063: Cardiovascular Effects of Transdermal Testosterone in Postmenopausal Women

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.118.suppl_18.s_1137-c ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽

Author(s):

C Vitale ◽

P Collins ◽

G Marazzi ◽

G Caminiti ◽

I Lodhi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Hormone Replacement ◽

Cardiovascular Effects ◽

Pooled Analysis ◽

Phase Iii ◽

Double Blind ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Clinical Program ◽

Large Phase

Testosterone Transdermal Patch (TTP) has been developed for the treatment of postmeno-pausal women (PMW) with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Since the cardiovascular (CV) effects of testosterone in women are still unclear we conducted a pooled analysis of the large phase III clinical program to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 300 μg/day TTP, alone or in association with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), versus placebo in surgical or natural PMW. Design & Methods: A total of 2795 women aged between 26 –70 years (mean age 52(SD=6.8) years) were included in 5 phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials (treatment duration range 24 – 52 weeks) as part of the TTP Clinical program. 4 studies included PMW (natural and surgical, two each respectively) receiving HRT while 1 study was conducted without HRT, in either surgical or natural PMW. Women with known CV disorders were excluded from the studies. Changes from baseline in standard metabolic and CV risk factors were compared. The incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) alone or as a composite CV endpoint was assessed. Results: The 2795 PMW were randomized to receive either placebo (n=1297) or TTP (n=1498). Baseline mean BMI was 27 kg/m2 (SD=5.3 kg/m2) and 56% were naturally menopausal. The demographic and baseline parameters were similar among the treatment groups. No significant changes in CV risk factors (Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Insulin, Glucose, Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure) were detected during the study period, apart from a blunting of the increases in HDL-C by TTP at 24 and 52 weeks (Placebo 52-week mean change 2.59 mg/dl vs. TTP 52-week mean change 1.20 mg/dl, p<0.005) and of the decrease in LDL-C by TTP at 24 (p<0.05), but not at 52 weeks. During the double-blind (24 weeks), placebo-controlled period of the combined studies, 4 major CV events (2 MIs and 2 strokes) were reported in placebo patients and 3 (2 MIs and 1 stroke) in those receiving TTP. One VTE occurred in a patient receiving TTP and HRT. Conclusion: TTP therapy in these clinical trials did not adversely affect CV risk profile and did not change the risk of major CV events in these surgical and naturally PMW with or without concomitant HRT.

Download Full-text

Occipital nerve block for the short-term preventive treatment of migraine: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/0333102414561872 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (11) ◽

pp. 959-968 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

Esma Dilli ◽

Rashmi Halker ◽

Bert Vargas ◽

Joseph Hentz ◽

Teresa Radam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Migraine ◽

Nerve Block ◽

Preventive Treatment ◽

Placebo Treatment ◽

Baseline Period ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Double Blind ◽

Occipital Nerve ◽

Occipital Nerve Block ◽

Severe Migraine

Background Occipital nerve (ON) injections with corticosteroids and/or local anesthetics have been employed for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine for decades. However, to date there is no randomized, placebo-controlled evidence to support the use of occipital nerve block (ONB) for the prevention of migraine. Objective The objective of this article is to determine the efficacy of ONB with local anesthetic and corticosteroid for the preventive treatment of migraine. Participants and methods Patients between 18 and 75 years old with ICHD-II-defined episodic (> 1 attack per week) or chronic migraine (modified ICHD-II as patients with > 10 days with consumption of acute medications were permitted into the study) were randomized to receive either 2.5 ml 0.5% bupivacaine plus 0.5 ml (20 mg) methylprednisolone over the ipsilateral (unilateral headache) or bilateral (bilateral headache) ON or 2.75 ml normal saline plus 0.25 ml 1% lidocaine without epinephrine (placebo). Patients completed a one-month headache diary prior to and after the double-blind injection. The primary outcome measure was defined as a 50% or greater reduction in the frequency of days with moderate or severe migraine headache in the four-week post-injection compared to the four-week pre-injection baseline period. Results Thirty-four patients received active and 35 patients received placebo treatment. Because of missing data, the full analysis of 33 patients in the active and 30 patients in the placebo group was analyzed for efficacy. In the active and placebo groups respectively, the mean frequency of at least moderate (mean 9.8 versus 9.5) and severe (3.6 versus 4.3) migraine days and acute medication days (7.9 versus 10.0) were not substantially different at baseline. The percentage of patients with at least a 50% reduction in the frequency of moderate or severe headache days was 30% for both groups (10/30 vs nine of 30, Δ 0.00, 95% CI –0.22 to 0.23). Conclusions Greater ONB does not reduce the frequency of moderate to severe migraine days in patients with episodic or chronic migraine compared to placebo. The study was registered with ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT00915473).

Download Full-text