New drugs could help improve care for sufferers of migraine, a conference has been told.
The condition is said to be the third most common, and seventh most disabling, medical disorder in the world.
Two studies have been carried out on the best drugs for migraine prevention. Both used "monoclonal antibodies" attacking a new target in migraine prevention known as the calcitonin gene-related peptide.
In the first study, 163 people who had migraines for five to 14 days per month were given either a single intravenous dose of a drug called ALD403, or placebo, and were followed for 24 weeks.
The drug was linked to an average of 5.6 fewer days of migraine per month, equating to a 66% decrease. However, the placebo also reduced days of migraine by 52%. No differences were seen in side-effects between the groups.
The second study involved 217 people who had migraine four to 14 days per month. They received injections of a drug called LY2951742, or placebo, twice a week for 12 weeks.
The drug was associated with an average of 4.2 fewer migraine days per month after 12 weeks, that is, a 63% decrease. Placebo was linked to a 42% drop. But this time the drug was linked to side-effects, including pain at the injection site, upper respiratory tract infections and abdominal pain. Overall however the drug was considered to be safe and well-tolerated.
Both were phase II studies, so larger studies are needed to confirm the results. They will be presented on 1 May the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in Philadelphia, USA.
Author on both studies Dr Peter Goadsby, of the University of California, San Francisco, USA, commented: "These results may potentially represent a new era in preventive therapy for migraine."
Studies presented on 1 May at the American Academy of Neurology’s 66th annual meeting in Philadelphia, USA, held from 26 April to 3 May 2014.
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