Have we reached a turning point with migraine medication?

Nov 30, 2023

The podcast discusses the recent approval of a new class of migraine medication called anti-CGRPs. These drugs are designed specifically for migraine and have a small side effect profile. The podcast explores the different phases and symptoms of migraines, as well as the challenges in diagnosis and individualized treatment. It also introduces Remagio Pan, a new oral preventive treatment that blocks CGRP and shows promising results in preventing and treating migraine attacks. The podcast delves into advancements in migraine treatment, such as non-pharmacological methods and the use of artificial intelligence. It highlights the potential for advanced technology to predict and treat migraine attacks, as well as the importance of repurposing existing drugs for global accessibility.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Understanding the Phases and Symptoms of Migraines

01:39 • 8min

Treatment Options for Migraines

09:30 • 3min

Migraine Management and the Search for Migraine-Specific Drugs

12:37 • 2min

Introducing Remagio Pan: A New Oral Preventive Treatment for Migraines

14:55 • 4min

Advancements in Migraine Treatment and Future Possibilities

18:57 • 5min

Around 1 billion people around the world suffer from a mysterious neurological condition called migraine. Far more than just a headache, migraine is abnormal processing of the world around us that can have symptoms like loss of sight and speech, dizziness, nausea and extreme fatigue.

There are drugs which can help those struggling with the condition like anti-depressants and anti-convulsants. However, they weren’t developed specifically for migraine and can come with quite a lot of side effects or simply not work.

For a long time migraine medication has been a process of trial and error.

But a new class of drugs called anti-CGRPs are being hailed as a breakthrough migraine medication. Anti-CGRPs have a small side effect profile and were designed specifically to target migraine. They work by blocking CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) from building up in the body and triggering a receptor in the brain which turns on a head pain pathway causing the migraine attack.

Earlier this year the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence - or NICE – in England cleared the use of an anti-CGRP called Rimegepant to use as both a preventive and acute treatment. Clinicians are hoping this will massively improve the lives of those living with the condition.

So this week on The Inquiry were asking ‘Have we reached a turning point with migraine medication?’

Contributors: Dr. Amaal Starling, neurologist and headache specialist at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, in the US state of Arizona. Dr Faraidoon, researcher at the Georgian Institute for Global Health at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Peter Goadsby , Director of the NIHR King's Clinical Research Facility and a professor of neurology at King's College London, England. Dr Lise Rystad Oie, researcher at the government funded Norwegian Centre for Headache Research - also known as NorHead.

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Editor: Tara McDermott Researcher: Matt Toulson Technical Producer: Craig Boardman Broadcast Co-ordinator: Jordan King

Image: eternalcreative - Getty Images: 1372323487