A preliminary study presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 75th Annual Meeting indicates that atogepant, a CGRP inhibitor, may effectively prevent migraines in individuals who have not responded to other preventive treatments. The study involved 309 participants with episodic migraines who had previously tried at least two classes of preventive drugs without success. Those taking atogepant experienced an average reduction of four migraine days per month, compared to two days for those on placebo. Additionally, atogepant reduced the need for acute migraine medication and significantly increased the number of participants achieving a 50% or greater reduction in migraine days. The primary side effects noted were constipation and nausea. The study author, Dr. Patricia Pozo-Rosich, emphasized the promising results for those who had endured debilitating migraines despite previous unsuccessful treatments. Participants received either 60 mg of atogepant or placebo for 12 weeks. While results were encouraging, the study’s short duration necessitates further research to evaluate the drug’s long-term efficacy and safety. Overall, atogepant represents a hopeful new option for those struggling with difficult-to-treat migraines. The study was funded by AbbVie, the drug’s manufacturer.
