Back to Back Issues Page
HeadWay, Issue #166 -- Breaking News: All About Aimovig
May 21, 2018
Hi!

*Please note: URLs may wrap onto the next line. To visit the website, cut and paste the entire URL into your address bar on your browser*

In this issue:

Breaking News: All About Aimovig

Recent News Headlines

Say what?! National Headache & Migraine Awareness Month


Thanks so much to the organizers of an amazing Migraine World Summit! It was more than ever full of practical, up-to-date information. I hope many of you as HeadWay subscribers were able to enjoy the summit. It's definitely the best way to quickly get your "master's degree" in migraine treatment!

Check below for more on this year's summit.

Breaking News: All About Aimovig

This past Thursday, the FDA approved the first ever CGRP inhibitor for the prevention of migraine. This is your quick and easy introduction to the new kid on the block.

What is it? Aimovig (formerly known as AMG 334 and erenumab or erenumab-aooe) is a CGRP inhibitor, or more specifically a calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibody. It is designed to help short-circuit the migraine chain reaction, preventing migraine attacks.

When/Where is it available? It was approved by the FDA, so it should be available in the USA in about a week. It has not yet been approved in other countries, but we can be sure others will follow soon.

Who is it for? Aimovig showed great promise in clinical trials for both episodic and chronic migraine. However, it probably won't be the first thing your doctor prescribes.

If you and your doctor feel that you're a good candidate for Aimovig, you will also want to check with your insurance company (which, for financial reasons, may also recommend another medication first).

Being a completely new type of drug, Aimovig may help you if you haven't been helped by older drug types.

How is Aimovig taken? Aimovig is taken by self injection, once a month. The injector is like a pen, and the injection takes about 15 seconds.

Currently, the typical dose is 70mg per month. Some patients might need 140mg, which would be taken in two injections the same day.

What are the advantages of Aimovig? In clinical trials, patients experienced very few side effects (the most common being irritation around the injection site, and constipation).

As an injection, Aimovig should be fast-acting. It's also just one dose a month, and the advantages of that are obvious!

How much will it cost? According to the National Headache Foundation, Aimovig will be US$575 per injection. Apparently there will be a program to help offset costs for eligible people, making the out-of-pocket cost as low as US$5.

How is it pronounced? AIM'-oh-vig

What's next? First of all, there are several other similar medications on the way. If one doesn't work for you, another might. And yes, there are non-injection options coming.

On the heels of the CGRP drugs, researchers are investigating an entirely new class - learn about anti-Pac 1 here.

For more details on Aimovig, visit their official website here. Also see Big News: First CGRP Inhibitor for migraine Approved in US – Aimovig

Recent Headlines

Here are a few recent highlights from Headache and Migraine News:

Say what?! National Headache & Migraine Awareness Month

National Headache & Migraine Awareness Month (MHAM) is an initiative started by the National Headache Foundation in the United States. The official colour is purple. :)

MHAM started as Headache and Migraine Awareness Week (in 2012?), and followed a similar initiative in Australia. I believe it became MHAM in 2014. (This disagrees with the dates here, but you can correct me.)

Whatever the dates, in 2018 MHAM became an official National Health Observance in the USA, thanks to Chronic Migraine Awareness. You can find more information at the Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients.

Thanks for reading!  Remember, if you have feedback or ideas for future issues, visit the HeadWay MailRoom.  Your password is nomoache.
Back to Back Issues Page