Migraine sufferers in England have been left disappointed with the news that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has rejected funding for a migraine preventative drug to be available on the NHS.
Aimovig (erenumab) was approved for use in Europe last July but NICE believes that the cost-effectiveness estimates for the drug are higher than what is considered to be acceptable when set against the uncertainty of how it will benefit patients.
Aimovig belongs to a family of drugs known as CGRP pathway monoclonal antibodies and it’s the first preventative medication that has been developed specifically to treat migraines. Most of the other medicines available were initially developed to treat other conditions and their benefits for migraine sufferers were discovered afterwards.
During a migraine, the cerebral nerves and blood vessels of the brain release substances including a neuropeptide called Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide or CGRP for short. CGRP has been implicated in different pain processes and also relaxes blood vessels. Research indicates that it plays a significant role in the process of migraine.
CGRP pathway monoclonal antibodies work by either inactivating the CGRP molecule or blocking its receptor. Studies show that these drugs are safe and effective in reducing migraine attacks and Aimovig has shown that patients, who have tried two to four therapies without success, had almost three times better chance of having their migraine days reduced by half compared to a placebo.
NICE, however, felt that the trial “doesn’t fully reflect patients seen in clinical practice in the NHS and nor does it include all the relevant comparators and outcomes.” Furthermore, the committee stated: “there was not enough evidence to suggest that it is more effective than botulinum toxin type A for people with chronic migraine, which NICE already recommends.”
Currently, patients suffering from chronic migraines can benefit from Botox for the treatment of migraine on the NHS. However, use is restricted in terms of eligibility and availability on the NHS is not easy to access. We have found that patients are increasingly seeking private clinics that offer Botox migraine therapy as a result.
If you are interested in learning more about the Botox training courses, call 0790 0583 898 to find out more. Youth Doctors offers the only Botox for migraine course in the UK and Europe.
