THE ESSENTIAL
- Researchers have presented promising results of atogepant, an oral drug belonging to the class of calcitonin gene-related peptide (PRGC) receptor antagonists.
- According to data from three clinical trials, this treatment significantly reduces migraine days per week and acts quickly, from the first day. It also improves the quality of life of patients.
- This medication offers a quick and effective alternative to current treatments that often take a long time to act.
Taking a treatment and benefiting from its effects within 24 hours: this is the promise that could change the lives of millions of people suffering from chronic migraines. A new study, published in the journal Neurologyhighlights the promising effects of atogepant, an oral drug belonging to the class of calcitonin gene-related peptide (PRGC) receptor antagonists.
Visible results from day one
Atogepant stands out for its speed of action. “Many current preventive treatments take several weeks or months to reach their full effectiveness, which pushes some patients to abandon their treatment”explains in a press release Dr. Richard B. Lipton, lead author of the study and professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in New York. With atogepant, the results are visible quickly: patients have fewer migraines from the first day, compared to those taking a placebo.
The study draws on data from three major clinical trials: ADVANCE, ELEVATE and PROGRESS. These trials included patients with episodic or chronic migraines. On average, participants on atogepant reported one fewer migraine day per week, compared to less than half a day for those on placebo. In patients with chronic migraines, the reduction was even more significant, reaching 1.5 days per week.
In detail, from the first day of treatment, the proportion of participants who had a migraine was lower in the atogepant group: 12% versus 25% in the ADVANCE trial, 15% versus 26% in ELEVATE, and 51% versus 61 % in PROGRESS. Adjusting for extraneous factors, the researchers estimated that the risk of migraine decreased by 61%, 47% and 37% respectively for the three trials.
An improvement in quality of life
Beyond the frequency of attacks, atogepant improves patients' quality of life. Evaluations show a reduction in the impact of migraines on daily activities, social and professional relationships. “Migraine is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, and the leading cause among young women. notes Dr. Lipton. Rapid and effective treatment meets an essential need.”
Despite these promising results, one of the limitations of the study lies in the low diversity of the participants, mainly white women. Further research will be needed to confirm the effectiveness of atogepant in more varied populations. However, with its potential for rapid relief of migraines, atogepant could soon become a promising option.
