A study published in the journal Neurology, affiliated with the American Academy of Neurology, reveals that atogepant, an oral antagonist of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors, offers rapid results in migraine prevention.
Lead researcher Richard B. Lipton, a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, emphasized the need for fast and effective treatments, particularly given the time required to adjust dosages and achieve therapeutic effects with existing medications. He also noted the importance of minimizing side effects associated with current therapies, which can impact patients' quality of life.
This discovery paves the way for a more efficient approach to managing migraines, a condition affecting millions worldwide. The results promise a significant shift in available treatment options, reducing the wait time for symptom relief.
The study analyzed data from three clinical trials (ADVANCE, ELEVATE, and PROGRESS) conducted over 12 weeks, focusing on the efficacy of atogepant.
The ADVANCE study included participants with episodic migraine, ELEVATE involved those with episodic migraine resistant to other oral preventive treatments, and PROGRESS focused on individuals with chronic migraine.
On the first day of the ADVANCE study, 12% of participants taking atogepant reported a migraine, compared to 25% in the placebo group. In ELEVATE, the figures were 15% versus 26%, and in PROGRESS, 51% versus 61%.
After adjusting for other factors, the risk of migraine was found to be reduced by 61% in the first study, 47% in the second, and 37% in the third for participants using atogepant.
In the first two studies, participants treated with atogepant experienced, on average, one less day of migraine per week compared to less than half a day for those receiving placebo. In the third study, the number of migraine days per week decreased by approximately 1.5 days in the atogepant group and about one day in the placebo group.
Additionally, all participants using atogepant reported improvements in quality of life and daily functioning. The study predominantly included women and white participants, limiting the generalizability of the results to the broader population.