A new class of drugs has shown great promise in preventing frequent and chronic migraine headaches.

The drugs, called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies, could be a game-changer in combatting the sometimes-debilitating headaches that strike millions of Americans, experts say.

"This development is a transformative moment in migraine treatment," said Peter J. Goadsby, M.D., chief of the University of California-San Francisco Headache Center, and one of the world's leading headache treatment experts and researchers.

"There's no question that we need something better. In fact, for prevention we really need something designed specifically for migraine."

Dr. Goadsby noted there has not been a new class of anti-migraine drugs since the development and marketing of triptans in 1991. Those drugs do not prevent headaches, but are designed to treat migraine attacks.

"Up till now, migraine patients have had limited choices for preventive treatment. Now four pharmaceutical companies are showing positive results in human trials targeting CGRP mechanisms," he said.

New research on the drugs is being presented this week at a scientific meeting of American Headache Society, featuring more than 1,000 migraine specialists from around the world.
The new class of therapeutic agents appears to reduce elevated levels of the peptide known as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a key driver of migraine pain.

Versions of anti-CGRP therapies are being tested by Alder Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Eli Lilly and Company, and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

"The potential of these new compounds is enormous and gives us real hope that effective specific treatments for migraine may be on the near horizon," Dr. Goadsby said. "The development of CGRP antibodies offers the simple, yet elegant and long awaited option for migraine patients to finally be treated with migraine preventives; it's a truly landmark development."