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Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eptinezumab, a humanized anti–calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibody, in the preventive treatment of chronic migraine (CM). Methods The Prevention of Migraine via Intravenous ALD403 Safety and Efficacy–2 (PROMISE-2) study was a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Adults with CM were randomly assigned to receive IV eptinezumab 100 mg, eptinezumab 300 mg, or placebo administered on day 0 and week 12. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in mean monthly migraine days (MMDs) over weeks 1 to 12. Results Among treated participants (n = 1,072), baseline mean number of MMDs was ≈16.1 across groups. Treatment with eptinezumab 100 and 300 mg was associated with significant reductions in MMDs across weeks 1 to 12 compared with placebo (placebo −5.6, 100 mg −7.7, p < 0.0001 vs placebo; 300 mg −8.2, p < 0.0001 vs placebo). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported by 43.5% (100 mg), 52.0% (300 mg), and 46.7% (placebo) of patients. Nasopharyngitis was the only TEAE reported for >2% of eptinezumab-treated patients at an incidence of >2% over placebo; it occurred in the 300 mg eptinezumab arm (eptinezumab 9.4%, placebo 6.0%). Conclusion In patients with CM, eptinezumab 100 and 300 mg was associated with a significant reduction in MMDs from the day after IV administration through week 12, was well tolerated, and demonstrated an acceptable safety profile. Classification of evidence This study provides Class I evidence that for patients with CM, a single dose of eptinezumab reduces MMDs over 12 weeks of treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02974153.

Objective To determine the prevalence of and risk factors associated with opioid use in the treatment of migraine, we examined demographics and clinical characteristics of 867 individuals who reported using opioids for the treatment of migraine. Methods We analyzed data from the CaMEO study (Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes), a cross-sectional, longitudinal, Internet study, to compare sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and migraine burden/disability of opioid users vs nonusers. Covariates were entered as categorical or continuous variables. Factors associated with opioid use were identified using nested, multivariable binary logistic regression models. Results Of 2,388 respondents with migraine using prescription medications for acute treatment, 36.3% reported that they currently used or kept on hand opioid medications to treat headaches. Current opioid users had significantly more comorbidities, greater headache-related burden, and poorer quality of life than nonusers. Regression models revealed factors significantly associated with opioid use, including male sex, body mass index, allodynia, increasing monthly headache frequency, Total Pain Index score (excluding head, face, neck/shoulder), anxiety, depression, ≥1 cardiovascular comorbidity, and emergency department/urgent care use for headache in the past 6 months. Self-reported physician-diagnosed migraine/chronic migraine was associated with significantly decreased likelihood of opioid use. Conclusions Of respondents who were using acute prescription medications for migraine, more than one-third used or kept opioids on hand, contrary to guidance. This analysis could not distinguish risk factors from consequences of opioid use; thus further research is needed to guide the development of strategies for reducing the inappropriate use of opioids in migraine.

Objective To evaluate changes from baseline in patient-reported outcomes for measures of functioning and disability among patients with migraine treated with galcanezumab or placebo. Methods Patients with episodic migraine (4–14 monthly migraine headache days) were treated with either galcanezumab (Evaluation of LY2951742 in the Prevention of Episodic Migraine [EVOLVE]–1: 120 mg n = 210, 240 mg n = 208; EVOLVE-2: 120 mg n = 226, 240 mg n = 220) or placebo (EVOLVE-1 n = 425; EVOLVE-2 n = 450) during 6 months of treatment. Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire v2.1 (MSQv2.1) measured the effect of migraine on patient functioning (physical and emotional) in 3 domains, and the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) quantified headache-related disability associated with missed or reduced productivity at work or home and social events. Both were collected at baseline and during the treatment period (MSQv2.1 = monthly; MIDAS = months 3 and 6 only). Results Differences in MSQv2.1 total score least squares (LS) mean change from baseline (month 4–6) for galcanezumab (120 and 240 mg, respectively) were superior to placebo (EVOLVE-1 = 7.3 and 6.7 [both p < 0.001]; EVOLVE-2 = 8.5 and 7.3 [both p < 0.001]). Differences were similar for all domain scores (p < 0.001 for both galcanezumab doses compared with placebo), were observed as early as month 1, and were sustained for 6 months for most domains. Differences of MIDAS LS mean change from baseline (month 6) for galcanezumab (120 and 240 mg, respectively) compared with placebo were: EVOLVE-1 = −6.3 (p < 0.001) and −5.2 (p = 0.002); EVOLVE-2 = −9.2 and −8.2 (both p < 0.001). Conclusions Patients with episodic migraine treated with galcanezumab reported significant and clinically meaningful improvements in daily functioning and decreased disability compared with patients who received placebo. Classification of evidence This study provides Class II evidence that for patients with migraine, galcanezumab (120 mg or 240 mg) given once monthly improved functioning and reduced disability.

Objective To evaluate the effect of fremanezumab on the functional status on headache-free days in phase 2 episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) studies. Methods Functional status data were collected prospectively via the electronic headache diary on all headache-free days by patients answering questions regarding work/school/household chore performance, speed of work completion, concentration, and feeling of fatigue. Individuals with EM receiving monthly doses of fremanezumab 225 mg (n = 96) or 675 mg (n = 97) or placebo (n = 104) were compared. Individuals with CM receiving fremanezumab 675 mg followed by monthly 225 mg (n = 88) and 900 mg (n = 86) were also independently compared to those receiving placebo (n = 89). Results In patients with EM, compared to patients receiving placebo, those receiving fremanezumab experienced an increased number of headache-free days with normal function in work/school/household chore performance and concentration/mental fatigue measures compared to their baseline over the entire treatment period (all p < 0.005). An increased number of headache-free days with normal functional performance for some measures was also found in the CM group in those treated with fremanezumab. Conclusion There was an increased number of headache-free days with normal functional performance on all measures for the patients with EM and some measures for patients with CM in the fremanezumab-treated groups. Further research is required to confirm these findings in a prospective study and to clarify the underlying mechanism(s). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02025556 and NCT02021773. Classification of evidence This study provides Class II evidence that for patients with migraine, fremanezumab increases normal functional performance on headache-free days.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for the prevention of chronic migraine (CM) attacks. Methods: In this first prospective, multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot study of nVNS in CM prophylaxis, adults with CM (≥15 headache d/mo) entered the baseline phase (1 month) and were subsequently randomized to nVNS or sham treatment (2 months) before receiving open-label nVNS treatment (6 months). The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. Efficacy endpoints in the intent-to-treat population included change in the number of headache days per 28 days and acute medication use. Results: Fifty-nine participants (mean age, 39.2 years; mean headache frequency, 21.5 d/mo) were enrolled. During the randomized phase, tolerability was similar for nVNS (n = 30) and sham treatment (n = 29). Most adverse events were mild/moderate and transient. Mean changes in the number of headache days were −1.4 (nVNS) and −0.2 (sham) (Δ = 1.2; p = 0.56). Twenty-seven participants completed the open-label phase. For the 15 completers initially assigned to nVNS, the mean change from baseline in headache days after 8 months of treatment was −7.9 (95% confidence interval −11.9 to −3.8; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Therapy with nVNS was well-tolerated with no safety issues. Persistent prophylactic use may reduce the number of headache days in CM; larger sham-controlled studies are needed. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01667250. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class II evidence that for patients with CM, nVNS is safe, is well-tolerated, and did not significantly change the number of headache days. This pilot study lacked the precision to exclude important safety issues or benefits of nVNS.